I teach at an elementary school, and last week some students burst into my room during recess with a big dilemma; they had rescued a blue egg from a dangerous predator, a first grader. They then proceeded to let me know that everyone on the playground had decided that I would know what to do. Hmmm. If you recall, I have a photo of a robin's nest with four blue eggs in it and told them that I would take the egg home and place it in the nest with the four other blue eggs. I assured them that if the egg hatches, the robin will treat the chick as if it were her own. Hopefully, the baby will like worms!
I realized when I went to put the egg into the nest that it was both larger and a different shade of blue than the robin eggs. I put it in anyway. I then googled for other birds that lay blue eggs, and the only possibility I could find is a starling. Are there other birds that may lay an egg like this?
Friday, I checked on the nest and the four robins had hatched and Ruth snapped this picture. You can see the egg I put in there peaking out from under the babies. I'll keep checking!
Bishop meets chick
My dad has chickens in his blood. He has countless stories from his childhood about chickens. He also introduced us to chickens back in the early 1960's. When he found out I was getting layers, he suggested that I get some fryers and he would butcher them out with me. Well, after the layers were out of the brooder, I went to the farm store and bought 26 Vantress X Arbor (AA70) Cross chicks. These are supposed to be ready in 6-8 weeks.
I think Bishop would like to have a play date with this youngster! She was quite calm and gentle. I don't know if that attitude would last if left to their own devices!
Samuel Beckett Reincarnated?
Deceased Irish writer spotted being pensive in the Green Barn. (White Crested Polish)
40 comments:
Don~ I think it is so sweet that the kids came to you for help. That speaks volumes about what kind of teacher you must be!
Ruth~ You've done it again! The photos are gorgeous, especially the new header. This morning when I told Larry about your Synchronizing post he responded that in light of where we live it might not be a good idea to be looking at your wonderful posts. :) He may be right but I am really grateful for them.....While I know nothing in reality is idyllic it's still affirming to see such beauty. Thanks.
I hope your egg does good! It's almost like with our hen hatching eggs.
You know, our chicks are 6 weeks old...if they were meat birds it'd be bye-bye birdy for them pretty soon!
BTW, love the new look! Great picture.
I noticed your new header photo, too, Don, and love it. And all the green, of course, which has always been stunning. I know you will tell us about the stray blue egg. I'm crossing my fingers that it will hatch and that mama Robin will kindly do her thing! So, do you now have a chicken named Beckett?
Sharon: It is sweet when kids do that, but it also is intimidating when I think about their little brains thinking I'm Bill Nye or Albert Einstein, when I am just a guy who loves stuff.
Chickengirl: Isn't it amazing how fast some of these chickens can grow?!
Thanks for the compliment, I get all my ideas from you!
Ginnie: Maybe Beckett shall be her name! For some reason, names aren't flowing out of me yet. Ruth has named the twin Splash Andalusians "Daryl and her other sister Daryl" after the movie and also the Darryls on Newhart. We also have one named "Minky" after the color of minks and also in honor of Peter Sellers. We may have one named after Susan, "Floozy." I wonder if there is a Donna in there?
Hello Don. Love the new banner; I hope we'll see the barn in all seasons: a barn is so pleasing, satisfying--the proportions, simplicity. Can't wait to see what your blue egg turns out to be; maybe another Irish writer! And I don't think it'll do your 3rd graders any harm to look up to such a fine mere mortal as yourself! I sincerely wish I had had such an engaging science teacher, in 3rd grade or any grade!
Laura: I can guess you had an engaging art teacher at some point! Thanks for noticing the banner. I like having a live-in photographer!
Hey Don love the new header, oh and great look a like White Crested Polish,lol. good luck with the egg
I know! One day they're tiny and fluffy, the next they have all of their feathers!
Thank you very much! I'm very flattered.
Bob: Thanks for your kind words. Your photos are out of this world!!
Chickengirl: Plus you never really know what you are getting! Some have such variations in their colors, etc.
Your blog has lots of interesting things going on!
This is our first time doing meat birds, I can not wait to harvest them although they are really cute right now. Thanks for leaving a comment on Luke's blog, they plan to post more frequently when school gets out. Our quail that I was asking about earlier are Bob White quail and they are 1 year old. Just noticed they are starting to mate but still no eggs.
Don, It has been decided that our future barn will be the blue-ish green color, Just like yours. I truly adore The view of the barn and the different color from the average barn makes it all the more special. (do you know exactly what the color is? I will explore the paint tabs for a close match to put in my sketch book.)
I love the polish chicks! Mine looked like Elvis and yours truly is another reincarnation- of Samuel Beckett that is..LOL
country girl: I am looking forward to having a freezer full of high quality chicken too!
I looked around foro info on bobwhite quail and found this interesting link:
http://pubs.caes.uga.edu/caespubs/pubcd/B1215.htm
It looks like your birds are a bit more complicated than mine.
As a teacher, I really like to see students write and write well! I found Luke's writing interesting!
Unusual: Green barns are the best! I think there is a can of the original paint in one of our buildings. I'll take a look tonight and see if I can find more info for you.
Elvis is a perfect name for one of these crested birds! Mine are starting to seriously grow some head feathers!
You've gone and done it again, posted a beautiful chick...
Love the photos of the new babies. Can't wait to find out what happens with the blue egg.
And your new banner!!!! Love it.
I was so busy with family I didn't see this post as it was hot off the press. Glad you had something new here today for me to read...
Yeah, some look just alike and some have the most different colors!
I try to keep it up, and thanks again!!
I don't know if you got chickens in your blood from your dad, or if you had them from way back, but I think you were born to do this. I may not be a farmer, but I love watching you. You raise us all quite well actually.
If Beckett is a "she", maybe she should be Marianne Faithful or Wendy O. Williams. The bouffant looks even more extreme than old Sam's!
I think Lorings right about Marianne Faithful ....then again maybe Phyllis Diller??????
Sandy: We love to surprise you with new photos of the chicks! I need to do a new post on the blue egg.
chickengirl: I can't wait til my hens get broody!
Ruth: maybe I was a farmer's wife in a past life, or maybe I was a chicken and I have evolved a level or two.
Loring: wow! I looked at those two "chicks" and they look scary with a capital scary!
Sharon: Phyllis Diller is a blast from the past! She had some great hair going.
First I want to say that I LOVE that new photo of the green barn at the top of your blog. How perfect! And that Polish chick is a perfect fascimile of Samuel Beckett. As for the blue egg, let's hope it's not a Starling. Starlings ousted my dear Oscar the Screech Owl from his nest box last month. I'm still stewing over it. I've managed to get the cats to the point where they avoid the chicks now. My old tom avoids them like the plague; he's too old to be interested in anything but a warm, soft couch. The younger tom minds his manners but I keep a close watch on him, just in case. Great post Don, I enjoyed it very much!
Don I loved the story of the children and the blue egg... what a great teacher to be so thoughtful of the children's admiration in an adult-they-can-trust to do the right thing and for the little egg.
... and of course the amazing skill of your photographer...
I'm very impressed!
amy: I haven't tried to mingle my hens with our barn cat as of yet. Maybe I should to let her know that they are family! Starlings are not a good trade for owls! Did the starlings move into the owl box?
Gwen: It was quite a coincidence that I found that robin's nest when I did! It sure made me look like I knew what I was doing.
Gread reading Don!
I'm still ill, so haven't had chance to do much at all.
I love the new header logo, and well done Ruth on the photos!
Stiggy: Still ill!! Please quit fooling around and get better! Is it in your respiratory system?
Yes, the #&$! Starlings moved into the nest box. I've placed a bounty on their heads!
Don,
Ha ha ha! That is so perfect about Beckett being reincarnated as a Polish rooster. Awesome!
Amy: That is too bad about your owls. I think owls are about the coolest birds.
Heather: I agree! I also wonder how he feels about reincarnating as a Polish Hen!?
No Don, my chest is totally better - just a gloopy fluey thing - I was going to mail you, but couldn't find anyway to do it, so I'll do a brief one now.
I wanted to say thanks for flattering me with your link text to my blog - you really are too kind!
Also, (and you'll smile at my misfortune on this one ;) )I've only gone and broken one of my molars now - I seem to be jinxed at the moment - I have an emergency appointment today to fix it.
Anyway - again, I hope you don't mind me posting here.
:D
Stiggy: posting on each others blogs is what they're for!!
I hope you get all of this out of the way soon! How is your house project going?
Brilliant Don!
New photos going up today and tomorrow!
:D
Great new look to the page Bo. It looks like an official web page now! These are among the best pictures mom has taken for this site...I saved the one of Bish and the chick...I wish I could have been there to see it in motion.
you are most definitely the coolest kid in school. it really does look like a robin's egg! just a tiny bit different. i can see why they would have mistaken it.
sam beckett reincarnate, i love it!! who's observation was that, yours or mom's?
i get to see you AND all your new babies in......5 hours!
Stiggy: Your house project is looking great!
Peter: You're right about the photos. I think Mom is continuing to learn about her Nikon D40 and that is showing in her photos!
Lesley: Of course the writer in the house would make a Samuel Beckett connection. I thought it was an Irish beer, (not really, but that sounds funny).
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