It’s possible that having the run so close to the house might have been a strategic error. Coping with the 5am wake-up just outside the bedroom window call every-single-morning has been quite the little challenge to come to grips with. Clearly memories fade after a decade of no chickens or some slightly different choices might have been made when planning this little lot. Fortunately, I’m an early riser and an even earlier lie-awake-and-ponderer so at least I don’t suffer an unduly startling wake-up call. Himself, however, has had to hone his capacity for ignoring extraneous noises to a whole new level. As of yesterday, I think the chickens are probably winning, given the grumbling!
Since my last post, we have renamed Braveheart. Her seemingly unlimited capacity for standing in the middle of the run and SHOUTING at the world is to blame for this. She’s particularly vocal when Chicken-little clucks off into the nesting box to snuggle down in the straw to lay an egg. So much so that, if no response is forthcoming, she’ll stomp up the little ramp into the nesting box and CHASE her sister out into the run! This seems to be because being all aloooooooone with a couple of (apparently) marauding pigeons who’ve fluttered in to snack on the leftover grain is very dangerous when she’s all on her own! Chicken-little eventually caves under the pressure – and chivvying – and scuttles out to see what’s up. She wanders around for a while, looking confused because the pigeons are gone and there’s clearly nothing noteworthy, then goes back to her disturbed egg-laying.
With all this in play, Braveheart somehow no longer seems to fit the bill! Coincidentally, I came across a tiktok-snippet in which a rooster is crowing very enthusiastically and his noise been voiced-over to sound like he’s shouting EliZ-zabeth(!). The name seems to suit her personality and I must confess that it’s easier to sound exasperated muttering EliZ-zabeth(!) as I head out to the run to save the neighbours – and my own – ears.
I reassure her (only somewhat impatiently…) that all is well and that the pigeons pose little risk. I go on to suggest that she quietens RIGHT DOWN about now ‘cos the number of her days remaining on this planet is probably more at risk from me than any imagined alternative! She’s less than impressed, but does settle down for a bit after that. Since having the wireless on when I’m out seems to comfort our little fox, I’ve also taken to leaving one on in my craft room all day, tuned to ABC Radio National. It seems that the chitchat of various podcasts and news broadcasts provides the chooks with the illusion of company and some sense of security. They both seem more settled, although they’ve taken to standing at the edge of the run at various times and staring in through the window. It’s disconcerting, but moderately quiet – so I’ll cope.
Anyhow, about a week ago, EliZ-zabeth(!) laid a shell-less egg. This, in addition to her previous two offerings looking rather like thin papier-mâché, was a decided worry. My on-call chicken whisperer’s comment was, ‘She’s fine. It happens sometimes. If you’re worried, cook up a ration of oats and mix in some grit to make sure she eats it (the grit).’ So, bright and early the next day, there I was cooking up oats porridge for the ladies! When it was cool enough, I duly mixed in a couple of tablespoons of shell grit and served it – still warm – with some mushroom and sweet potato leftovers. Gourmet chook food apparently, compared to the grain I put out at the same time. That they left for the pigeons!
Of course the next egg EliZzabeth(!) produced was of a good size and looked (mostly) normal. So, there you go – Chicken-whisperer knows her stuff!
Fortunately, Chicken-little has caused less stress and has consistently laid medium-large eggs, all with good shells. She’s also shown no sign of any need for creative artistry in their production or started to indulge in pronouncements of the sky being about to fall or the pigeons invading. She even copes with being bullied. Small mercies.
We’re averaging 9 eggs a week, which is pretty good, and I’m starting to give some of them away now. Not too sure that the eggs make up for the noise and fuss, but at least the rodents haven’t been eating my zucchini, tomatoes, etc., so I’m hopeful that the primary reason for getting the ladies has – possibly, probably – paid off.