Our Adventures With The New Gals and other news

We've been spending a lot of time with the ladies we have borrowed for the winter to keep Woodchuck/Acorn company.  Have I mentioned that Woodchuck has a new name because "he" is probably a "she" and most certainly can't be "Woodchuck" anymore?  She must have a more feminine name, per the children!  I still tend to call her "Woodchuck" though.  Anyhow, I'm introducing "Miss Honey" and "Miss Eleven."  Miss Honey is a Buff Orphington and Miss Eleven is a Rhode Island Red.  They are definitely the bosses and have let Woodchuck/Acorn know this important detail with pecking and chasing.  This has been rather interesting to watch. 

What has been even more interesting to watch has been the "laying of the eggs." We weren't prepared for egg-laying, but we were able to put together a pretty nice makeshift nesting box from a drawer we found in the run-down chicken coop on our property, an old laundry basket, a blanket, and some wood shavings. 

The ladies seem to like it and have already been taking turns laying eggs in it.  When Miss Honey is laying, Miss Eleven patrols the door of the chicken tractor, clucking LOUDLY until she has finished.  When Miss  Eleven is laying, Miss Honey stands at the door like a sentinel until she has finished.  We have become fascinated with this behavior, to say the least.  If we aren't outside with them, we are inside watching through the window.

We are also completely fascinated with comparing their eggs... looking at the size, color, specks, and shape. 

The one on the left is from Miss Eleven, the RI Red.  The one on the right is from Miss Honey, the BO.  This has led us to research breeds.  We have found that Woodchuck/Acorn is an Ameraucana and will lay blue/green eggs someday.  We are also learning about temperaments, which ones are good layers, which ones are good mothers, etc.  We are pretty obsessed with chickens right now.

  Ruthie's favorite, however, still is Woodchuck/Acorn.  She loves to hold her on her lap.  Who needs dogs or cats, huh?:)

When we aren't with the chickens we are building forts, building and painting shelves from scrap wood, reading more Magic Tree House books, and lots of other stuff.  More later on our Hungarian Day today and tomorrow's day with The Rockettes!