Something I have never seen before

I am sure I come off as the Crazy Chicken Lady with all these posts about chickens and eggs. But, I just had to post this video of what I found in the coop (twice) this week! Granted, I knew that this can happen from time to time, but I had yet to see it from my own chickens.

Chicken Hospital

I found Harriet in her coop yesterday afternoon VERY stressed, lying on her side, panting heavily, and not able to stand. I quickly brought her inside, laid her on the cold tile and gave her some water. She didn't appear to be egg bound (thank goodness), so I assumed she was in some kind of heat distress. Her legs, comb, and waddle were all very hot to the touch. I tried to cool her off the best I could, but she didn't improve. She couldn't keep her eyes open and her breathing slowed. I called a good friend (who happens to be a vet) and asked her for some advice. She said, "You need to call a Vet." No joke. To be clear, she meant that I needed to contact an Avian Vet. This poor chicken appeared to be dying, so the boys and I took her to the bird vet. To make what could turn into a long story a bit shorter, they gave her fluids and tube fed her. The Doc said that she appeared to be malnourished. Her temps were normal, so her lethargy wasn't related to the heat. I am still waiting to hear if she has some kind of infection.

Harriet spent the night in the bathroom in her little makeshift home. By morning she was standing and squawking like normal. I couldn't keep her caged up, so I let her loose outside. She was happy to be there, scratching, foraging, and preening. However, Lola has been pecking her a lot. I guess that is the welcome home she gets. I am sure it is very important in the chicken world to reestablish the pecking order when another hen returns. Poor Harriet. Girl can't catch a break. I did lock her in the coop for about 30 minutes so that she could have access to food and water without being bothered. As for now, she is keeping to herself, hanging out on a cold water bottle, and trying not to disturb the peace too much. I hope she is feeling better soon!

Huge egg!

Henny hadn't laid any eggs for a few days when I found this (lighter egg) in the nest box. I wonder if that hurt.

Post Edit (August 24): I cracked open this large egg this morning for breakfast and it had a double yolk! Bonus!

Preschool!

E started preschool last week! He has a different teacher than B did. For the most part he enjoys being there. However, when it comes time to leave the house, he says he doesn't want to go. While I would love for him to stay at home and cuddle with me I feel good knowing that while he is there, he actually has a great time! This is a big transition for him, so I know it will take some getting used to. There were days when B didn't want to go to school, but after a few months, he started asking me if he could go on the days that he got to stay home! I hope E feels the same way soon. Anyway, we couldn't pass up the chance to take some "First Day of School" pictures of the little man. Doesn't he look excited? Well, maybe not in the first picture.

When eye meets pointy corner of the bedpost

Egg Comparison

Starting on the left and moving clockwise you see the eggs of Cutie, Henny, Lola, and Harriet. As the chickens mature, their eggs will darken and get bigger.

YAY for Henny!

Tonight, I found this in the rocks. After watching Henny go in and out of the nest box all day, I guess she finally couldn't hold it any longer and just laid it right down in the rocks. I am lucky I didn't step on it!

On a side note, I find the following picture a little funny. They are both in the nest boxes doing their thing.

First day of Kindergarten

My Big Boy started Kindergarten yesterday. He was so excited he could hardly stand it. The morning was rainy and cloudy. He bounced through his breakfast, not really focusing. He was thrilled that he finally got to put on his school uniform. Which, by the way, are much better looking than the ones I wore when I was little.

When I was walking him to his classroom, he assured me he knew where he was going and I didn't need to take him there. I certainly couldn't let him go by himself and miss out on some picture opportunities!

Once inside his classroom, he was greeted by his teacher, Mrs. Martin. He was asked to find his name and number on a chart. Then he and I were sent on a scavenger hunt to find things like the bathroom and drinking fountains.

When we returned, he found his seat at the table and began working on a project. We gave kisses and hugs and then I was off!

I thought that I would get teary and emotional, B being my first child to enter the school journey. I didn't. I was so excited for him. I definitely cried when I left him at preschool for the first time. I never left him somewhere without me before and I had a hard time with that. Now, my little baby can find his classroom by himself and doesn't need me to follow him.

I wish I could have been a fly on the wall to watch him explore and learn the ways of Kindergarten and his new school. He said that he had a fun day and really likes his teacher. I can't wait for him to embrace learning, new friendships, and all of the benefits this his school has to offer.

Back to School Celebration!

The evening before school started, I hosted a Back to School Celebration for our little family. Since both boys will be starting new chapters in their lives (B to Kindergarten and E to Preschool) I thought a grand celebration was in order.

I made Texas Sheetcake.

I set the dinner table with our china, silver, and crystal.

I made each boy their own special crown.

We enjoyed a feast of Spaghetti and homemade garlic bread.

We devoted the entire dinner conversation to school related topics. We wanted to know about their plans at their new schools, what they were looking forward to most, and what they were nervous about. I tried to discuss goals for the year, but that went over their heads. Perhaps next year.

It was a great evening and the boys really enjoyed the celebration in their honor as well as getting to have dessert!

Just like spaghetti!

We got some worms for the chickens the other day. They were so excited they could hardly contain themselves! So, how does a chicken eat a worm? Just like spaghetti!!

Swimming

After an entire summer of whining, complaining, and crying at his swim lessons, E surprised us the other day and just decided to swim. Just like that.

16 weeks

I am in desperate need of some cute skirts and dresses to accomadate my expanding belly. Where can I find them? Anyone? Help! Oh, and they have to be comfortable and not have that huge pregnancy belly band that can be so constricting.

The Mysterious Egg

I went out to the chicken coop the other afternoon to collect Harriet's egg (Lola had laid hers in the morning) and when I opened the nest box lid I found TWO eggs in there. One was obviously Harriet's and the other looked a lot like Lola's eggs. Now I am pretty sure that chickens don't lay more than one egg in 24 hours, so who's was it? By the process of elimination, I had concluded that Cutie had laid her first egg. Henny's eggs will be either green or blue. This morning I found Cutie in the nest box doing her thing. So, it has been confirmed. Henny is the only chicken remaining to start laying eggs. We are really looking forward to getting 4 eggs a day.