Chicken Littles

Because I, apparently, don't have enough going on in my life right now, I ordered some new chicks in June.  They were hatched on June 14th, and promptly shoved into a box and Priority mailed to me.  A neighbor split the order with me and I ended up with 10 little birdies.

Here they are the day I received them.  They spent a couple weeks in the porch, then a few weeks in the garage.  Baby chicks need to be kept very warm until they start to get feathers.  Like, sauna warm.  We achieve that with a nice heat lamp aimed at the brooder.

Here they are in the big coop 5 weeks from the day I received them.  Isn't it crazy how fast they grow?  They're in the feather growing stage and look like a bunch of awkward teenagers.  So far, they're getting along well with the older hens and are really enjoying their new home. 

I cleaned out the coop for the first time in way too long in preparation for moving them out there and it turns out I have a renewed love for my flock.  Chickens are so fun to watch, they're like therapy that feeds you.  Speaking of which, these pullets(young female chickens) won't be old enough to lay until October, so, since the birds take a break in the winter, we might not get eggs from them until next spring.  Which is fine, because we're getting plenty from our few older hens right now.

And here is sweet Miss A holding what looks like a Barred Plymouth Rock.  She's a master chick chaser, which has come in handy on more than one occasion.  And, yes, she's wearing a sparkly gown and tennies.  That's my girl!

Blown Eggs - the EASY way!

Blowing eggs the traditional way can be a chore.  You have to mouth an egg and end up with two holes in the shell.  This way is much easier and your shell will have only one hole.  And, you won't get light headed unless you hyperventilate from sheer excitement.  In which case, you need to get out more. :)

Supplies:

*  eggs, can be dyed, but must be uncooked
* syringe with large gauge needle or sewing pin/needle and bulb syringe(also known as a booger bulb in our house)
*  some sort of receptacle to catch the egg innards
*  paper towels or old rag
*  mineral oil

Instructions:

1.  Decide which side of the egg you want to display.  On the opposite side, poke a small hole in the shell.  I used an 18 gauge needle and it went right in when I twisted it like a drill.  Then, I used the tip to break a tiny piece or two of shell outward.

2.  Wipe off the bits of shell using a paper towel or rag.  Try not to leave any loose pieces so you can use the eggs once they're out of the shell.

3.  Insert the needle and gently scramble the egg a bit in the shell.  You want to break the yolk up  a little.

4.  If using the syringe, pull the plunger back so it's full of air.  Insert the syringe or bulb syringe and gently blow air into the egg.  As air goes in, egg will come out.  Repeat as needed until the shell is as empty as you can get it.

5.  You have a couple options to clean the remaining egg residue from the shell.  You can use your syringe to squirt water in and blow it out until it runs clear(ish).  Or, you can hold the shell under running water in your sink, then shake the water out.  Both work fine, I did a combo of both using the syringe first, then the sink as I was washing the outside of the shell.

6.  Allow to dry hole side down or bake in a 200 degree F oven for 15 minutes.

7.  Dye or decorate, if desired.  I left my eggs natural, I love the variety of colors my hens lay.

8.  Coat lightly with mineral oil for a light sheen.  Pour a dime size amount on a paper towel, then rub the eggs well.  Allow to sit for a few minutes, then buff off the excess oil.  You could use a vegetable oil if you want, but the mineral oil will last longer.  This step is also optional.

Enjoy your beautiful eggs year after year.  Or until your kids break them. :)

Hints:

*  If you're using eggs you've already decorated, practice on one you don't love to make sure you've got the hang of it.
*  If you dye afterward, the eggs will float, so you'll have to fill them with dye if you want them to sink.
*  I did my eggs in batches as I needed them over the weekend for cooking and baking.  It only added about 5 minutes to each thing I was making and then the eggs didn't go to waste.

Linked to parties at: The Girl Creative, Cottage Instincts, Making the World Cuter, Today's Creative Blog, A Soft Place to Land

Look! Eggs!

Lookie what I found yesterday when I went to feed my chickens!

I've had a major egg drought.  I've been buying my eggs *gasp* for the last few months because my little freeloaders have been on winter break.  Chickens need a certain amount of light hours per day to lay, and unless you provide light during the short days of winter-and I don't-they'll slow down or stop production.  The days have been getting longer and they finally started laying again.  Yipee! 

My punkins ate a couple of those beautiful eggs for breakfast today.  Aren't the bright orange yolks pretty? 

My birds free range and the beta carotene from the grass they eat makes the yolks a much deeper color than standard store-bought eggs.  Of course my little creatures of habit  darling children were a little wary of the different color after several months of store-bought eggs, but they changed their tune after a couple of bites. 

It's almost time for baby chicks!!! 


P.S.  My middle sister made that pottery bowl!  Isn't it gorgeous?!  I love pottery so much, it just makes me happy.