Pysanky

Py- what? Well, that's what you call Ukrainian egg decorating and our friend Peg, who is also our best egg customer, taught us how to do it today. Betty White layed a triple yolker so I used that one first.

South Africa

This being a blog about animals, I thought I should mention another reason for my absence. On October 30, for 10 days, we went to South Africa. What an AMAZING place. Animals all over. Here are some:

Previously, I have posted pictures taken with the Hipstamatic app. Now, there is Snapseed. You can grunge or drama or vintage your pictures after you've taken them. Way cool.

It's been a while since I've posted but that is just because I started working again, not that anything happened to the chickens. In fact, one day, I found 17 eggs in the nesting boxes. Since we have 17 chickens, I am going to give each one of them credit.

The NPR correspondents start laying!

Got our first eggs from Nina Totenberg, Sylvia Pogiolli and Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson today!

The Polish Join the Flock

Schwinn and Smirnoff were in the holding zone for a week or so. At night, I'd find them roosting on the fencing. There was some hen pecking once they joined the flock, particularly from Blanche. But now, the flock seems to have achieved harmony. Even Jim noticed that they seem like a happy flock.

Which Chicken Are You?

If you are the kind of Mom who can make a kid stop what they're doing with just a look, you are Hedwig.

Hedwig is the leader of the flock. She leads with a quiet authority with Blanche and Squirt as her wingmen. (Winghen?)

Don't mess with Hedwig and she won't mess with you.

And again, I am using the Hipstamatic app to take these cool photos. I may have to name a hen after the Hipstamatic.