07/26/2025
Yesterday, I promised myself that today, I would take it easier. The heat and humidity have been brutal. For the last two days I have worked outdoors three or four hours in the morning, taking a break in then another three hours ot outdoor work in until dark. The gardens ste w**ded, mulched with hay; the blackberry/raspberry field has been methodically w**d, w**d whacked, and mulched ; the lawn neatly mowed and the edges trimmed; the garden potted plants dead headed an amended; the long Confederate Jasmine controlled with a heavy trim; the dirty chicken dishes and Goat bowls washed and set out in the sun to dry; the goat barn partially cleaned – it is too much for one day; and the porches swept and cleaned. Each day my clothes so wet that it was difficult to remove them along the porch!
Yes, I promised myself today would be a day out of the Sun and Heat – I might even drive to town to get a loaf of bread, a treat!
The morning was slow, with reading my favourite things, coffee with cream and sugar, sitting in the garden as the dogs nosed around the garden as I sat to enjoy the early morning fragrance, and sounds of the songbirds in the rose Arbor.
Even later, dressed and clean and fairly decent clothes for a change, walking out, I had the same plan. The day was promising although already hot.
Turning on the Goats air conditioner – yes air conditioner. I know it's ridiculous, but they love it, and goodness knows, in this heat it is needed.
Feeding and watering the sweet Angora's takes is a little effort and is a pleasure.
BUT THEN, as I opened the Chicken house door, I heard the sound of a hen clucking to her chick (s)!
A Black Java hen, who was unusually Broody and fiercely protective of her nest, was left in her high hard to reach nesting spot weeks ago, simply because she was too vicious to handle. After she blew up the first time packing fiercely and flying at my face, Four eggs were marked, to distinguish from other eggs that would be laid in her nest by her envious peers.
There on the floor of the chicken house far in the corner – in the dirtiest part-of course, was this feisty broody hen with one chick!
It's little black head peering out from a wing and the hen singing her low little humming sound talking to her chick.
Checking, there were three remaining eggs each marked. Two were unmarked so I knew they were either newly laid, or laid far after the firsts. The remaining eggs in the high nest box corner, were carefully picked up and listen to holding them close to my ear. There was no sound no tapping, no chirping. They felt cool. I placed them in a paper bag and gently carried them, figured they were most likely rotten and I did not want them to explode, to the trash bin.
On the way I thought I heard a chirp but dismissed it as an overhead bird. THEN, it happened again. Putting my ear to the bag it was undeniable there was a chirp coming from one of the eggs!
Back to the henhouse I placed the eggs under another broody hen sitting on a nest with nothing . She was happy with having three eggs placed under her.
Then, to get things ready for the chick, walk to the long shelter to the row of chicken paraphernalia collected over 45 years to get a small chick feeder and water container AND a square piece of plywood to place them on so that the other chickens do not scratch shavings into the water.
Ideally, the hen and the chick should be placed in a separate Lot, however, I don't have one. The other two lots are filled with pullets and cockerals. The pullets sold and will be picked up on Tuesday so I'll have a open lot and I'll move the hen and chick.... maybe another hen and chick by then.
So much for the uneventful slow morning. I'm already sweaty and my clothes are dirty.
The trip to the bakery is sounding even more inviting!
