Our Little Hen Barbara Died Today

Our sweet girl was fine today, running around, and enjoying her yard.  At about 1:30 pm I gave her and Mabel their raisin treats.  She was her piggy little self.  At 4:00pm I went out to put them I their coop and found her dead on the floor.  Her little body was still warm.  There were no signs of trauma, no blood, feathers, nothing.  She was just laying on her side with her little eyes closed.  I picked her up and carried her inside, calling for Cal.   We are heart broken to loose this wonderful gentle funny little hen.  I am so sad. 
We don't know how Mabel will be now that she is without her buddy.  They cruised around the yard together all day long. 
We love you Barbara. 

Molting Chickens: Once again we have horrifying looking chickens!

I want to apologize for not blogging for several months.  2015 has been the worst year of my life so far. The sudden death of my Mom knocked me off my feet.  I am still reeling from that.  Add to that family illness and crisis and another death and blogging got lost in the shuffle. I am trying to regain my balance and decided to blog about the girls.

Feathers are everywhere!  Mabel's neck is only as thick as a pencil.  Barbara looks like a Zombie.  Scary!!  But we know molting is just the way chickens get ready for winter, getting rid of summer feathers and getting their winter coat.  Wish I could lose weight as easy. 

Barbara stopped laying a few months ago, which we think is just because of her age which is almost 4.  Mabel kept on laying until the her feathers started to fly last week.  For the last week, no eggs.

Honestly, that's OK with us.  These girls have worked hard and laid eggs for the better part of 4 years.  That takes a lot of energy, not to mention must be painful.  We love them and are happy to have them as bug eaters, and non-laying garden art. 

They are a joyful presence in our yard, and to help them cope with molting, which I think as the equivalent of PMS that can last for weeks. 

First of all, then need a higher percentage of protein while they are molting, like up to18%.  Yogurt, tuna, car food, dried mealy worms, cottage cheese, eggs etc. will give them the energy to generate those new feathers.   Talk sweet to them and give them treats.

Secondly, try not to stress them further by holding them more or moving them around, or God forbid introducing new chickens into the flock.  Did you know that chickens can become cannibalistic?  To use the PMS example, ladies, think about being full on PMS and having your mother in law surprise you with a visit, intending to stay indefinetly.  Uh Huh, you see where I am coming from. 

January 20, 2015: Eggs Now $4.00+ per Doz.

Wow, we have really appreciated our girls and their delicious eggs, but never realized they were worth their weight in gold.  Eggs today at the local super market were $2.59 per half dozen.
WTH! 

While the girls have slowed egg production a bit during these winter days, we are still getting 1/2 dozen per week.  Interestingly enough, even though I have been eating more eggs than before we got the girls, my cholesterol etc. is still OK.  Also switched to real butter at the same time, used sparingly, it has had no effect either. 

Another bit of chicken lover trivia:  We recently replaced our carpet in the living room and dining room with tile.  Why you ask?  So that it is easier for us to have our chickens come on in the house.  Well, it is also easier with a muddy foot doggie too, but primarily it is for the girls.  Now they come right in and join me in the kitchen watching my every move to see if I have a treat for them.  So now, I have three pairs of eyes on me when I am cooking.  We are  nuts, I know.