Domestic wildlife

~milk eating cracked corn

Just finished having tea with the chickens.  I had to laugh. When I sat down with my tea tray, before I even put the tray on the bench, Milk was there in my face wanting to eat my oatmeal.  She was so close.  I had to scoop some out for her, but it was too gooey, and got stuck on her beak. Not her favorite thing, by any means.

And, in a sense of celebration, Milk laid her first egg yesterday, about a month behind the other four.  I think she was so relieved afterward, I can imagine her saying to herself, "Man. Glad that's over with.  Have had a pain for days, and now I feel so much better.  On to other things." Not realizing she'll be back in the nesting box either today or tomorrow (most likely tomorrow), having another ache in her backside.

Which brings to mind us possibly having to buy eggs in the winter months.  A chicken's laying is directly affected by the amount of light they get on a daily basis.  With it being dark-ish here in January and February, it'll be interesting to see how many eggs we'll get.  Now we're averaging 3-4/day.  I was looking at brown eggs at the grocery store last night, pricing them (about $2.50-$3.50/dozen) and trying to decide what I'd buy if I had to buy.  I've sworn off white eggs, especially after all the reading I've done.  Sort of have become an egg snob. Don't like the idea of the little beggars being stuffed in boxes and fed to be quick layers.  And I refuse to buy extra-large eggs, no matter the color, after finding out that they're fed a different diet so as to get bigger eggs.  That's got to hurt. As I said, an egg snob.

Not trying to guilt any of you out of buying white, though. Consider this.  A chicken's brain is about the size of a man's fingernail.  Not sure they really mind being in close quarters. Feed 'em and they appear to be happy.  Just saying.  And if I'm going to be honest----a brown egg isn't any guarantee of a happy chicken.  I think we've been brainwashed into thinking a brown egg is organic and guilt-free.  Not so sure that's the case.  If an egg producer is going big time, then the conditions for the chickens have to be brought into focus. Might just eat fewer eggs come winter-time.  We'll adjust. Anyway, just the other day, we dropped an egg outside, right after Nora had laid it.  We had a moment of silence out of respect for her sitting diligently for 1/2 an hour and then sacrificing an egg to the ground.  It was a sad day.

Now onto other things.  It's a wonderful, overcast day.  Still deeply thankful for the work in Gary's shop. Groceries in the kitchen, and a spring in my step.  Feeling content and so blessed.  Wish I had the knack for feeling so fabulous when there's not work in the shop, but haven't achieved that level of faith, and not sure I ever will.  To know the bills are being/going to be paid is pretty darn fine.

Must go now.  Piglet has just announced that she's laid her morning egg.  She goes bok-bok-buhCAW and then the Pugs bark (in the house, no less), and then the big dogs howl.  An unnecessary chain reaction, but what can you do?