Tasty eggs

It's raining today. That's good because after the last few days of hot sunshine, the rain barrow is less than half full (or is that more than half empty). It also gives me an excuse to work on my weaving.

Yesterday I potted up the basil seedlings. I have lots extra so I think I'll sell some of them and start more seeds for use later. There are four different types of Basil, but in an unusual act of recklessness, I didn't label which are which so I'll call them Assorted Basil.

One of the other ducks has started a nest near my bedroom window. This is great news because maybe I can help protect her from nasty monsters.

Speaking about eggs, I have one hen who loves eggs. She loves them so much that she pecked open no less than 7 eggs the other day.

Apparently when you have an egg eater in the flock and you don't know who it is, you lift up each hen and whichever one is the heaviest is your prime suspect. This one hen weighs as much as my rooster which is at least five times the weight of the average chicken in my flock. So, yesterday I separated Blacky (soon to be re-named Vindaloo) and not a single egg was pecked. This is indeed good news.

But now we are faced with a different challenge. What do we do with naughty black hen? I'm not willing to eat her. Mostly because I don't want to kill her. Plus there is the plucking. She is people friendly - not affectionate - but not aggressive either. She's also older than the other hens. I'm not interested in keeping her separate from the flock forever. It makes one more feeder to fill twice a day. That means I have to go out and buy an extra feeder and waterer for a chicken that I don't really want.

So, I have one gorgeous, healthy, friendly, and well fed chicken available. She is still laying most days, but you have to get the eggs quick. If anyone would like to buy an extremely fresh stewing chicken or if someone with a soft heart would like to give her a good retirement home, please get in touch this week.