My chickens stopped laying at the start of fall. It was expected of Iman, my ornamental Golden Laced Cochin, but unusual for Kimora, my highly productive Barred Rock. Last winter she still pumped out an egg or two a week, but between the heavy molting and the fowl pox, her body was just not up for it this season.
So imagine my surprise this week when I found her sitting patiently and quietly inside her nest, which I hadn’t seen her do in nearly four months…
And that can only mean one thing!
After about 20 minutes — and a very loud and proud announcement of her new “delivery” — I opened the door to find a beautiful brown egg in the nest, still warm and just as solid and smooth as I’d remembered it. (I didn’t dare tell the chickens that we’ve been cheating on them all winter by buying other chickens’ eggs from the store.)
Coincidentally, I’d just been relishing the longer days this past week and enjoying the fact that the sun does not go down at 4:30 in the afternoon anymore. It seems Kimora was on the same wavelength! (And she left us another gift in the nest the next day.)
Now I’m just counting down the days until I catch Iman in the act.
26 Comments
JimS
February 2, 2014 at 1:22 pmMy family eats about a dozen eggs every other day. I so want to get chickens to at least help cut down how many we buy from the market. What do you think it costs (on average) per dozen? Have you figured it out, or do you not really care because you’re getting fresh, healthy eggs from happy chickens?
Linda Ly
February 2, 2014 at 2:07 pmI’ve never tried to figure it out. There are just too many indirect costs (as well as benefits) with raising chickens that it’s impossible to know how much a dozen homegrown eggs costs… e.g., the cost of the greens they share from my garden vs. the organic fertilizer, pest clean-up, and soil aeration they provide the garden beds each season. Backyard chicken owners aren’t really doing it to save money; they raise a flock for the experience of knowing how their food is produced and where it comes from. And many small flocks are treated as household pets.
theGardenBetty
January 26, 2014 at 11:02 amNothing beats a backyard egg from your own chickens. The First Egg of the Year http://t.co/39auHh4GRO < TY for RT! @tylamac @FredJaicks
theGardenBetty
January 24, 2014 at 9:00 pmMy treat this week: a beautiful brown egg, still warm in the nest. The First Egg of the Year http://t.co/E53lQPFqYg #homesteading
tylamac
January 24, 2014 at 4:03 pmRT @theGardenBetty: Nothing beats a backyard egg from your own chickens. The First Egg of the Year http://t.co/39auHh4GRO #homesteading
FredJaicks
January 24, 2014 at 3:03 pmRT @theGardenBetty: Nothing beats a backyard egg from your own chickens. The First Egg of the Year http://t.co/39auHh4GRO #homesteading
theGardenBetty
January 24, 2014 at 3:02 pmNothing beats a backyard egg from your own chickens. The First Egg of the Year http://t.co/39auHh4GRO #homesteading
theGardenBetty
January 24, 2014 at 9:01 amAfter a rough winter of heavy molting and fowl pox, my girl’s back in the groove. The First Egg of the Year http://t.co/z20o3ZxkUX #poultry
theGardenBetty
January 23, 2014 at 6:02 pmThe best gift of raising backyard chickens: The First Egg of the Year http://t.co/ZMrLCbydU8 #homesteading
Diana Heffernan-Schrader
January 23, 2014 at 3:16 pmDiana Heffernan-Schrader liked this on Facebook.
theGardenBetty
January 23, 2014 at 12:00 pmMy Barred Rock has started laying again! The First Egg of the Year http://t.co/W4OrGeg9hm #backyardchickens #homesteading
CompoKeeper Compost Bins
January 23, 2014 at 11:16 amCompoKeeper Compost Bins liked this on Facebook.
Amy Goo
January 23, 2014 at 11:16 amAmy Goo liked this on Facebook.
Amy Goo
January 23, 2014 at 9:50 amYay Kimora and Iman!
Isis Loran
January 23, 2014 at 9:21 amThat’s so exciting! Our chickens are still laying for some reason, even though many are molting and temperatures have reached the -20C/-4F. I keep waiting for the eggs to cease but alas no, I hope it happens soon as I was looking forward to the old fashioned signs of spring!
Linda Ly
January 23, 2014 at 2:49 pmDespite our very summery weather this winter, I still felt like this first egg was a sign of spring! It gives me hope for a new growing season.
Su
January 23, 2014 at 8:21 amCongratulations! You give me hope. Our Barred Rock, Molly, is the lone hold-out among our trio of hens when it comes to laying. I’d been wondering what her eggs would look like, too (she was born last spring)…and now I know. 🙂
Linda Ly
January 23, 2014 at 2:49 pmMy Barred Rock lays 6-7 eggs per week… a very busy lady in peak season!
Brian Morris
January 23, 2014 at 7:31 amCheck around the yard and under the boat…. One day I went out there looking for them…. Feathers everywhere and no chickens … My heart dropped …. Bitches were playing hide and seek with me for five minutes.
Jenn Daniel
January 23, 2014 at 6:31 amJenn Daniel liked this on Facebook.
Matti Salomaki
January 23, 2014 at 6:31 amMatti Salomaki liked this on Facebook.
Robin Billings Patterson
January 23, 2014 at 6:31 amRobin Billings Patterson liked this on Facebook.
Robin Billings Patterson
January 23, 2014 at 6:12 amOne of my girls has been laying all winter but ready for others to start earning their keep!
Garden Betty
January 23, 2014 at 12:11 pmI always feel like that first egg signifies the start of spring (of course, that doesn’t apply weather-wise out here this year).
BG_garden
January 23, 2014 at 6:03 amThe First Egg of the Year: My chickens stopped laying at the start of fall. It was expected of Iman, my orname… http://t.co/IoVJKEvWPV
theGardenBetty
January 23, 2014 at 6:01 amBlogged on Garden Betty: The First Egg of the Year http://t.co/bSJEbwjwOD