AMAZING EGGS!!!

Well yesterday I began getting really suspicious that one of the ladies was about to start laying some eggs...

She would go into hiding for a few hours and then return to join the rest of the group! She's been doing other strange things as well... So I did what every sensible parent would do. I locked her up! HA

This morning the boys and I left for a couple of hours and then came home...I was dying to see a cute little egg in one of the nesting boxes! Sadly to my dismay I came home to 7 ladies in the chicken run...and the 8th (Georgina) was MIA! I was on a mission...the boys and I searched high and low throughout the yard and woods. I decided to brave the spiderwebs and slugs to see if she had gone into the little overgrown area right behind the coop....sure enough, this is what I saw!

 Little Miss Georgina "nesting" in the woods! 

 She had found quite a cozy little hideout! =) Too bad it wasn't in the NESTING BOXES I built for her!!! Geeesh!~

She was laying there and I was staring at her...I think I made her nervous! Anyway, she was kind of  breathing heavy and "contracting" so I was getting really excited that I might get to see her lay her 1st egg! (To some that may seem gross, but to me it's really exciting!) 

I noticed the cats starting to swarm around us and then our lovely dog Lily was also trying to figure out what was going on! I began to worry that someone might attack her......so I made the decision to lift her up and move her to the safety of her nesting boxes! Then I'd also be encouraging her to do her business in there anyway! NOT IN THE WOODS!!!! 

When I picked her up to move her this is what I saw! 

I was ASTONISHED!!!! 10 EGGS!!! YES 10!!!! She has been a busy little lady!

They're not that big, but I guess when all you've ever eaten is store bought... then unrealistic expectations are no surprise! I'm so excited to try "FRESH" eggs!

I kept 8 and put them in the fridge (don't think we can eat them but can't just toss em' either...I see a craft project in my future!), and left her 2 to try and encourage laying in the nesting boxes... hopefully this is not another flawed theory! =)

I tell you what, trying to figure out all this chicken stuff is pretty fun! I'm so proud of my little Georgina! Now if the other 7 start laying so well, I'll be sharing eggs with everyone! =) 

If you build it they will NEST!

Even though we've had the nesting boxes for quite some time now, they haven't been going in there. After a bit of online research I discovered that they can't really jump that high and needed a little ramp to help them along. So, I built a little ramp and a 'deck'. 

They've since been enjoying their nesting boxes.

Last night I found 4 snuggled up together in one of the upper ones. Not sure how they got up that high, there was a lot of squawking...but they managed! 

And two others found a comfy place near the new ramp! 

And "Buttercup" has my vote that she'll be the first to lay an egg. Shes the most dedicated to laying and nesting. 

I heard from a friend that putting golf balls in there lets them practice and suggests to them that they should sit and lay too! So far it's been unsuccessful... we're still waiting anxiously for the first egg! They seem to be going through the molting process as feathers are everywhere! I'm hoping that the molting doesn't delay the laying process.... we shall see! They're fun to watch and play with anyway! They're such sweet gals! 

In Loving memory of "Sprinkles" who met an untimely dog induced death on July 9th 2010. 

Glasses...

Here are a few of the choices we have for glasses. Dempsey picked out some of the more square frames, and I liked the ones with the thicker frame and band so they are *hopefully* less likely to break!

Option # 1

Option # 2

Option # 3 (We call these the "Racing ones" because they have an orange stripe down the side)

Make a comment to vote or give your opinion...this is actually a really hard decision! ugh...