Hens on Henny Penny Lane

Oh goodness, I was going to tell you how crazy the hens go in springtime, but then, who am I to talk! I go just as crazy. Every day is packed with happy stuff to do outside and crapy stuff to do inside. 

Why, there's no telling how many steps I walk a day. If only there was time to stop and put my Fitbit on. :) 

So about the hens...

Way over a month ago, three hens decided they wanted to set (as we used to call it). Every day it was a fuss and a fight over a nest box and a few eggs. 

and all the while Poppy preaching, "don't let those hens set. We can't sell the eggs we have now. We sure don't need more chickens".

So, without Poppy knowing, I met with the hens and here's what we decided...Each hen got a nest box and two marked eggs. I then put up one new nest box for the other laying hens. Finally! Peace and quiet in the chicken house, until...

Chicks began hatching.  Time flies, doesn't it!  Two mama hens, each with two baby chicks. Had to get busy and find them all a safe place, so I divided the little covered guinea pen into sections, making homes for the two mamas and their babies. 

Then Poppy found out...not to worry I told him. My plan is to sell the whole lot on Craigslist. My ad reading..."Mama hen and two chicks $15.00. Take them all; Two mama hens and four chicks $25.00."  Got immediate response in emails...so I called the first one. Turned out to be a nice couple with a young son who live about five minutes from us. How nice!  I worry too much about animals and want them to be cared for properly. They bought them all. :(

Now the third old set'n hen has been a worry. Three time, I've been in the chicken house to gather eggs and caught her off her nest and sitting on the fresh eggs...while her three marked eggs lay cold and unattended. Forgot to tell you I gave this hen one extra egg. Anyhow, I would pick her up and put her back on her marked eggs. 

So Poppy, once again, "you need to throw her eggs away and take her off the nest. She'll get over it. Those eggs are not going to hatch. Just throw them over the fence in the woods".

But I waited, and late yesterday while gathering the eggs, found two teeny tiny chicks under mama hen. Checked again this morning and there were three. :)

Don't know if I can part with these. I've worried so about the others having to leave home.

We'll see.  Long ago, women folk talked about what they bought with their egg money...I bought mulch and plants with my hen and chick money.

Appreciate your visiting. Hope to be back soon...

Love,

Henny

Poppy holding the babies...