Happy Talk...

2011 is off to a rough start, but I really can't complain because I've still got it pretty good. My backyard chicken flock is doing quite well. All three ladies are now laying. Shirley was the last one to begin laying. I think if Shirley were human, she would be an old spinster. She's ugly, for one, and cranky as heck. Chickens do this squatting thing if you move up on them suddenly. From what I've read, it's a submissive posture and a sign of sexual maturity meaning they are ready to breed and/or lay eggs. Nickie and Esther squat quite happily and let you scratch their back and right above their tail. Nickie gets really into it. About a week before Shirley laid her first egg I noticed that she was squatting too, only she was not so into it. It's like she has the instinct to do it, an instinct so strong that she can't help but squat, but she hates it. She'll squat, begrudgingly, but if you try to scratch her back, she bites you. I think she has intimacy issues.

the landscaping crew

My chickens have brought so much joy into my life. It's really hard being unemployed after a lifetime of successful employment. Applying for job after job and getting no positive response takes its toll on your self esteem. It is just delightful to be able to step out into my big beautiful backyard and be greeted by a happy flock. I know that they rush over to me to see if I am bringing them a treat, but even after they discover I've come empty handed, they don't bail on me. They hang out and scratch around for buggies while I keep watch over them. They know I am protecting them and that feels good. Another thing I am so grateful to my chickens for, and some people may not think this is a plus,  they have finally killed off the clover that takes over my yard every year. My husband doesn't understand what I have against the clover, but I just can't stand it. It takes over every year, smothers out all the other plants, then after a short life, dies down, leaving brown strings strewn everywhere. It looks good for about a week and then looks terrible. So, good job flock! Hopefully they've killed off the grass too, because that's another nightmare. Our backyard, or "Wild Kingdom" as my sister likes to call it, is rolling terraces, trees, shrubs, rock walls, basically random chaos. It looks cool and natural, but when the grass starts to grow in the spring, it is impossible to mow. We have to weed-whack and it's about a third of an acre back there. Patches of grass are able to grow tall and sprout foxtails. So far we've had to have foxtails removed from Lola's' nose, twice, and Gladys' ear. And it's dang expensive. But so far, my dutiful birds are keeping the grass in check. Way to go, Ladies!