I have finally named this Cuckoo Maran pullet; her name is Wolf. (After the Aesop story about the boy who cried, "wolf.")I walked around to the chicken yard and Khan was nowhere to be seen. Khan is the head rooster and is very protective of his girls. He stares down any hawk that floats by, he crows whenever an airplane goes over or when a motorcycle roars past, and he is always outside snooping around to make sure all is well in his world. I immediately worried that a hawk decided that a rooster would make a nice dinner.
I opened the door to the coop and went inside to see what was going on. That was when I spotted "Wolf" sitting in a nestbox, and about a dozen other pullets milling around looking at her. I took a step toward Wolf and was startled by a sudden movement to my right. Khan was also sitting in a nesting box, apparently keeping guard over his favorite girl, and he jumped out and flapped to the floor with a loud squawk. I was relieved that Khan still lived, but I was more interested in what I was hoping Wolf was up to in the nesting box. Her beak was open and she seemed to be laboring a little, so I decided to leave her alone and come back later to see what she was up to.
I had my suspicions, and it was really hard to go away!
I did some obscure chores to pass some time and then went back to the coop to see what had happened. I had my cell phone poised to call Ruth to bring the camera and went into the coop. The coop was completely empty, (except for the two little Japanese Bantams). Holding my breath, (Really!!), I peered into the nesting box which held Wolf. Nada, nil, nuttin', no egg, not even a feather! Of course, I checked every box and every corner, just in case she changed her mind and did the deed somewhere else. Nothing, no eggs.
I went to the window that looks out at the chicken run and spotted Wolf picking at some scratch I had tossed out a little earlier, oblivious to all the excitement she had caused. Also oblivious to the HUGE letdown she gave me!! She spotted me and came running over to the window to do her little song and dance for treats. (she really has one). Well, I had a grape tomato in my pocket and was tempted to toss it to Floozey, but I relented and dropped it secretly so only she could get it.
OK, I actually had a lot of fun with all of the expectations, but enough already!
GIVE ME OGGS!! (Amy of Twelve Acres seconded the motion set forth by Ruth on her blog to call them "OGGS.")
Here is Khan, the protector of all things pullet.
The OGG watch continues...
19 comments:
I remember being anxious for our chickens to start laying their eggs... then they laid three on a day I was out of town for work!! Mr. C sent me pictures on my cell phone, but it just wasn't the same. Crazy chickens!
That is one fierce-looking rooster! Very handsome.
Awesome pic of Khan! He does look fierce!
Ahhh darn... kind of a let down but then I imagine you will have so many oggs with all those birds...
Loved the story and you set up the let down great...darn.
I always enjoy the photos you post of them.
I, too, am searching for any sign of a small green, white, or brown egg. I looked under one of the young pullets' favorite bushes, (which is near our small orchard) but found only some apples and feathers. But, in our ducks' pen there is a doghouse which they sometimes take shelter in. The chickens used to go in there to lay eggs but have stopped. Over the past couple of weeks or so, I've been finding some identical white eggs, and am convinced that our female white Pekin, Donald (don't ask), has been laying them. Excitment!!!!
I bet she's waiting for you to go back to school and absently happen upon them after a long day at work.
Were you this excited when Peter and Lesley were born??? :)
Oooh the excitement is too much for me!!!
Is there any bet-makers in Vegas I can call up and see what the odds are? I'm DYING to know who's gonna be first! I'm even more excited to know which breed!!
Khan is one fierce lookin bird! I think my little Silver Hamburg gets in the nests to show the girls what to do once they get in there. When I check the nests it's very obvious that someone's been in them shopping for the best nest. The fake egg in the nest works too. The first egg was laid right next to a Titleist golf ball! LOL I'll take the balls out once the chooks are good at laying where they should be.
Jen: That must have been a bummer. After a few weeks of gathering many eggs (I have 27 layers) I'm sure the "fun" will start to wear off. Maybe not!!
laura: Khan is even more fierce looking now! He has developed into quite a handsome fellow! He is the largest chicken I have had, and he is still growing!
I'll have to get Ruth to take a comparative photo so you can see his size compared to the hens.
Warren: Thanks for the visit! Khan is aptly named.
Sandy: Yeah, that was a little discouraging, but now that the laying has begun, I think I'll need a bigger basket!
chickengirl: It sounds like you have to do a lot of searching! I hope you get them all. Do you have nesting boxes for them?
sharon: Sneaky little devil bird!!! Maybe that is what she is up to.
That's funny to think about comparing chickens to Lesley and Peter's births!! That made me laugh out loud...
paula: I like the idea of calling some bookmaker in Vegas and laying down a C note on somebody's chickens!
I have nearly 20 nesting boxes and all of them have signs that someone has been trying them out. The one Wolf used is one I didn't put straw in! I have golf balls in the most visible nests. I think I have Noodle golf balls in mine!
Yeah, we actually have seven nesting boxes, but since ours have been letting our during the summer they've started laying in peculiar places... i.e. beside the garage, in the front yard, beside the house, in a haybale, you get the picture!! :)
Lol, song and dance, Don, get the video camera, that would be cool.
Great Shot and love the name Khan, reminds me of Star Trek II,lol
You really are worse than a mother, Don!!! :)
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