Molly and Her Rubber Egg

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Yesterday I found a shell-less egg in one of the nesting boxes.  It was just the inside of the egg.  

The white and the yoke.  I knew Molly had been in there so I went to find her.  

Sure enough, the rubbery egg membrane was caught on her back feathers.

I cleaned the egg out of the nesting box, being glad she didn't eat it.  Egg eating is hard to brake if they start that.

Well, today, out in the yard, I found another egg without a hard shell.  Unfortunately the membrane broke when it hit the stones.  They're called rubber eggs and are fairly common.  I'm assuming it is from Molly.  She seems perfectly fine.

There's many causes of this but she is eating Layer Pellets and I keep free choice oyster shell grit in their run.  I'll see if she goes back to laying regular hard shelled eggs before I search out a cause.

They are strange birds!  Always something with them.

Shirley

Earth Fare

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I took a little drive to Earth Fare today.  It's a healthy foods grocery store with a lot of organic foods.

I've been reading about how the things we eat are so bad for us and I really would like to eat better, more healthy.  An article I recently read about vegetable oil really sent me right to the healthy food store!  It was about "the ugly truth about vegetable oils and why they should be avoided!"  Man, it's a wonder we all haven't keeled over by about age 30!

Article is here:  http://thankyourbody.com/vegetable-oils/  

I enjoy going to Earth Fare.  They have great produce and meats.

The only problem is the prices.  It's a shame that it costs more to eat healthier!

This is their buffet.  I've eaten lunch here a few times.  If I lived really close I'd just eat here!  I think it would be less expensive than buying the organic foods to stock your kitchen.

They do have big cases of meals you can take home too.

On another subject:

Yesterday I got my hair cut and on the way home I stopped at the Oreck store.

I've had my Oreck for at least 14 years and it's badly in need of repair and reconditioning.  However, to do everything it needs, it would cost close to buying a new one.  So, they had this spiffy one on sale.  ($100. off!!) so, I got it.  It's very powerful and is even self propelled.

Now, isn't that exciting!

Shirley

In the Chicken Yard

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Every nice day, I try to give the girls at least a couple hours out in the big yard space that I made them.

I open their regular run and they run as fast as they can over to the grassy place.

They like to sun themselves as they don't have much sun in their run off the coop.

Pepsi, the little barn cat likes to be in with the chickens.  They have become friends I guess.

Martha is curious about that tail!  This is right before she gave it a peck and Pepsi ran away.

Well, Pepsi, you should wiggle it like bait!!

Shirley

My Rare Household Tips!

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It's pretty funny that I would be giving household tips as believe me, I'm not what you'd call Miss Tidy Housekeeper!

I don't enjoy cleaning and believe me, organizing and de-cluttering has gotten away from me!

But here's a tip I saw on line that I've been using and I really like it.

In the morning, I fill my big kitchen sink with warm water and a little Dawn and all day I put all the dirty dishes I use into the sink of water.  At night, I load and run the dishwasher.  It soaks off any food and grease before it enters the dishwasher.  

I have never believed you can put food laden dishes in the dishwasher and expect them to come out clean.  I have a newer dishwasher and believe me I've tried it.  Doesn't work!  It just bakes it on!

This works well for me because I have a second little sink to use too.  (To wash my hands or dump something down the drain.)

Here's another; probably obvious tip to most.

I have soapstone counter tops.  I oil them a couple times a year to keep them looking nice and dark and beautiful.  I noticed that if I sat my bottle of Dawn on the counter, the soap on the bottom would cut through the oil and leave a ring.  (Of course, it's dawn, it removes grease and oil!)

So I just set it on a little paper plate now.  Problem solved.

Another thing I've been trying my best to do this summer is to hang my clothes out to dry; especially the bed linens.

Since my dryer is electric, this saves a good deal on the electric bill.

So, there's my little household hints of the day.  Pretty obvious probably for most of you.  But hey, it's me . . . . 

Shirley

A Little Tea Party

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Shirley

Ava in the Chicken Yard

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My grandkids were here today.

Jack was in the house watching something on my iPad but 

Ava loves to be out with the chickens.  She checks for eggs about every two hours.

She let them follow her over to their yard today and spend some time with them giving out some scratch.

Ava starts first grade next week so she won't be coming to Nana's on Wednesdays.  Jack will be coming another 3 weeks before his pre-school starts.

Little Lily is lowest on the pecking order so Ava makes sure that she gets her share.

The whole time Pepsi was sunning herself on top of the little coop in the yard.  She squeezes through the fence.  She's little.  The chickens are pretty much bigger than her.  She isn't much interested in them. 

A nice cool day today.  Sure doesn't seem like August in Ohio!

But I'm not complaining.  Better this than 90 and humid!!!

Shirley

Chicken Stuff and a Hawk Scare!

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I had let my chickens out in the yard, (the fenced in area I made), and I was in the family room.  I just happened to look out of the window at the right time as a large red tailed hawk landed in the tree over looking the yard.  I RAN out into the yard and collected my girls getting them into their covered area and I chased the hawk away.  Well, I waved my arms around.  I don't suppose he was too scared.  I will have to sit out with my girls from now on since Mr Hawk knows where they are!!!

When I checked my garden today, I found this gross tomato hornworm trying to make short work of one of my green tomatoes.  They are huge!!  I pulled it off which was no easy task as they really attach themselves to what they are eating!  I ran with it over to my chickens and threw it in before it got me!!

The girls ran up to it, pecked it a couple times but seemed a little timid!  They talked about it amongst themselves for a long time!  I don't know which one actually got to eat it but it was gone when I went back to look!

I also picked some herbs and rose petals from my garden and put them in the chickies nesting boxes.  Gives the boxes a pleasant smell and is also good to keep down any bugs that may be around.

The girls weren't quit sure about their colorful quarters but finally accepted the new decor.

Shirley