May 21st

7:00 this am. Cloudy

tip for the day.

I've always wondered exactly what that ring around the moon meant, now I do. I've also always wanted to start a book with this line, "Call me Ishmael." Ha! But no, don't call me that.

We collected 5 eggstoday. Picked up 2 more.                                                                   Which came first? Chicken? Egg?

The girls, waiting to bail out of the coop, ASAP. Pepper was squawking so much, that the others began too. It reminded me of that scene in "When Harry Met Sally", when the lady at the other table says, "I'll have what she's having!"

Rainy weekend, but it didn't stop us from being in the garden. These are various mint plants.

this is Hung Cay, a Vietnamese mint.

 

this is one called Chocolate Mint Patty

 

 

Purple Basil

 

Thai Basil

 

 

Bay Leaf, otherwise known as Bay Laurel

 

 

here's more of our 'chokes. There is 6 more on the bush.

These are 2 more, so far we've harvested 3.

 

 

okra

 

bell peppers

 

Vidalia onions

garlic

 

just chicken butts.

 They are running with away with a lizard

 that Nugget caught. That lizard was completely gone when I went to look for it. That lizard died under mysterious circumstances. I suspect fowl play!

 

 

Chicken school:

Here's the thing about hens, they have a laying cycle. They think they are "brooding" baby chicks, so like most animals, they are more prolific in the spring and summer months. They may lay an egg a day and then take a day off. It usually takes around 26 hours to form an egg, so the longer days in the spring/ summer are ideal for laying. The fall and winter, with shorter days, may mean that the hens won't lay but every other day or so. Hens typically start laying around 20weeks or sexual maturity. They will produce most of their eggs while they are young and begin to taper off as they age. They go though a type of menopause and completely stop around 5 years old. Many chicken "farmers utilize their hens as Sunday dinner then. Nope! These girls are our pets. Besides, the first rule of chicken club, is you don't talk about chicken club! No eating these girls!

So, until next time, remember the Beatles songs about gardening:
"I'd like to be, under the sea, in an octopuses garden in the shade"
"Strawberry fields forever"
And
"Tangerine trees and marmalade skies".............