Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Cabbages for Kings











I guess that should be Queens really. Since June, we've been the guardians of some fine chucks. Daphne (Du Maurier) and Agatha (Christie) arrived on 30th June (my birthday). The coop arrived over the next few days, a finely build construction designed and made by DH and eldest DD. Yes Dad did let her use the power tools!.
A few weeks later they were joined by 4 more, Hillary (Clinton), Michelle (Obama), Janet & Latoya (Jackson), all topically named by DDs.
Daphne and Agatha started laying pretty much straight away and we now regularly have 2 eggs a day. The rest are younger and are due to start laying around the middle of September, can't wait. I get seriously excited by the little miracle I pick up when they have laid.
I tried hard to get all six chucks in the same photo, it was pretty tough. I have been puzzling why our egg yolks are pale yellow and would really like them to be that wonderful golden colour. DD1's boyfriend did some research and it seems it's all down to diet. Basically, give them some green stuff and the yolks should have a deeper colour. So, the trial begins, a cabbage was placed in the run today, which they promptly descended upon. Let's see if it has the desired effect.
BTW did you notice the Scottie taking particularly close interest in the chucks. Denver just loves her new 'playmates'.