Friday, June 11, 2010

Cleopatra, "the Recipe", and those darned Barnevelders

I reported not long ago about Cleo laying those strange triangular eggs - I had to catch her in the act to find the culprit! While my GD was staying with us for a week, she and I built a 'Hen Hospital', and fed Cleo oyster shell calcium, special "dainties" from the kitchen and garden, and "the Recipe" - a magical wormer to remove any parasites she might have been harboring. She TOTALLY ceased egg production in the hospital, but today she produced her first egg since she indulged us by drinking "the Recipe", and guess what? No triangular egg - a completely hard blue shell, normal as can be! I am so happy - I was worried that one of my readers might have been right about her getting into some harmful poisons that caused her eggs to come out shell-compromised! Mr. Wonderful puts mice killing pellets in one of the outbuildings, and that was a concern I had. I thought perhaps I would have to put Cleo away...but today was a fine day in the hen house - a day to celebrate! Rejoice with me!
So, what of those "darned Barnevelders", you ask? The picture above is one of 2 Pullets I brought home today. They are about 8 weeks old, and so dainty! I saw a FOR SALE ad and just had to have a pair. They will lay brown eggs in around September, and I KNOW Mr. Wonderful will be so pleased I got them, once he finds out, which could be a while. (The last pair of birds I smuggled in at Thanksgiving last year were not discovered for 5 months.)
These little girls are quite speedy, and have such a soft peep sound when they talk to each other. It will be a couple more months, at least, before they can go in with the other hens due to their young age and small size. I don't want any bloodshed!
Meanwhile, little tomatoes are starting to grow on 2 of my plants! I'm happy about that too - last years tomatoes were a wash - it was so cold all summer we never did get any mature fruit off the plants. It's going to be very warm and humid this weekend and I love the look of our garden right now.
THE PURPLES ARE BLOOMING!!! Such a season of color coordination!

Have a Happy Weekend!

8 comments:

^..^Corgidogmama said...

Love your purples!
You sound so relieved about the "normal" egg production, and, like a proud grandma!
Your new kids are really cute too.
Nice things are happening in Michigan...yay!

Angela said...

Hey Monica!

I'm so glad to hear that Cleopatra is all better now! I'm sure she is feeling like a new Spring Chick now that you and your sweet grand daughter nursed her to back to health!

The new Chickee Babes are cute! Sounds like your Mr. Wonderful doesn't know what goes on in the Hen House! hehehe He might notice them in September when you start collecting brown eggs! He will wonder where they came from. Men!!! lol

Purple is my favorite color and you sure do have a lot of beautiful purple flowers!

I was just out in our garden to plant some more squash and zucchini that didn't come up before the rain and noticed that I have a few tomato plants with some green tomatoes on them! I can't wait to eat them!

Have a Wonderful Weekend!
Angela

Chatty Crone said...

I am so happy the 'medicine' worked and she is okay. I know how special she is to you. And for the new additions - wonder how long Mr. Wonderful will take to find them out?

I love vine ripe tomatoes - yummy! You are lucky.

I miss you.

sandie

Rose said...

GLAD THAT THE EGG SITUATION IS BETTER. LOVE THE FLOWERS. HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.ROSE

farmlady said...

Cleo is feeling better and laying normal eggs. I'm so glad. Take care of her
Your garden is just beautiful. The new chicks are cute.
Enjoy all of it...

Love Of Quilts said...

Glad all is well in the hen house...you have pretty flowers what is the name of the one in the second picture. Trish

Marjorie (Molly) Smith said...

The purples are so pretty. I love to mix pinks and purples, I think they are stunning together.
I'm glad your baby is ok.
I think when Mr Wonderful sees the brown eggs, he'll think your new babies are wonderful.
Have a wonderful week end.
Molly

ocmist said...

You've got a really pretty garden, and I'm so glad that your hen is doing well now. THAT must be a load off your mind and you care so much about your birds. Good luck with the new ones.

I actually ate my first tomato a couple of days ago. I'm using one of those Topsy Turvey planters this year...