The "Gals" continue to grow bigger and bigger, as they continue to lay the most delicious, fresh, rich eggs for OUR growing family. Matilda, our Ameracana, lays slightly larger, beautiful green eggs. She is very mild tempered, and she is quite a fighter, having survived a dog attack. Shelby is the black chicken with the greenish hue on her feathers. Stripee is the Bardrock, with the black and white coloring, and she seems to be the alpha-female.They laid less in the colder months, but picked it back up again as the weather warmed up. We like to let them roam free, in order to enrich their lives and provide more bugs for them, (more bugs=richer eggs). Sometimes they take over the yard and poop everywhere (like right outside the back door), and mom gets a little frustrated. Other than that, they are the easiest creatures imaginable, to care for, and they are more than worth the trouble. We eat a lot of eggs (mostly Kaleb, Gabby, and Mom), and there is just no comparison with the factory farmed store-bought eggs. We felt extremely compelled to take on this chicken project (in addition to the edible garden and other sustainable living options), after learning a thing or two about the industrial farming industry, or as the girls refer to it as "those BAD farmers". It brings us such joy to be able to give just these 3 living, feeling creatures a "good and happy life". Gabby and Kaleb especially enjoyed going out to collect eggs. Sometimes, Matilda would lay her eggs in an odd place in the yard, and we would have to go on an Easter Egg Hunt! Gabby could always find them.
When our 4th chicken, Rosie was killed by a hunting dog, in the neighborhood, it was very sad for Gabby, to whom Rosie officially belonged. We reminded her constantly, they had "had a good and happy life", filled with sunshine, juicy bugs and fresh air. It was interesting to see how Gabby changed her tune, when she would really be craving a chicken leg for dinner. She would be reminding ME, "mom... we can just eat one of our chickens... they have had a good life... ya know.".
The lemon tree produced heavily in the winter months, providing us juice for lemon bars, sauces, and hot tea.
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