Going Down for the Count

Well, all these days of visits to the hospitals and nursing homes... and I think they are taking their toll on me. 

Sore throat, aches and pains... despite my getting a flu shot last week. 

I understand there is a second type of flu virulent in Kansas now. 

Not good. 

So far, I am not completely down, just worn out. 

How NOT to feed a flake of hay to your goats. 

These two little girls love their hay, but you can see from the ground that a lot is being wasted. 

I usually bring two flakes in the morning, and put one in the feeder. 

I set the other one down, intending to split it between the trough and the feeder... and this happens. 

I let them have it this morning, and yes, most ended up on the ground. 

And in fact, Kelly jumped out of the trough and joined them at the "hay stool". 

When I walked into the old henhouse this morning, I saw a red head tucked down in the nursing cage. 

I have been getting one or two eggs from there daily. 

You see, there are three two year old girls in there who SHOULD be laying, but one is not. 

The other two do not lay daily. 

Today was a stellar day, which I will show you below. 

Here are the beautiful eggs I got from there. 

The two brown from two red hens.  The green from Chatterbox, the Ameracauna, and 

the white from Buffy, the Polish. 

And this is the nursing cage that I often write about... it has served to isolate hurt and sick birds, and as a chick brooder.  This is also the cage that a snake got into with eight chicks one night, leaving me only 3 survivors the next day. 

I put Butch in here when I need to protect him. 

In the closet there is an old cut-down ammunition box I got somewhere, and the hens love to lay in it. 

A red hen and Buffy laid their eggs here. 

What a difference from last week's below zero weather!  You see the wild birds have deserted us for greener pastures, giving me a little break on Back Yard Blend.  I have just remembered, seeing this picture, that I'll have to put out a new cake of suet tomorrow, too. 

Three red hens were still out pecking around as I went to get the mail late this afternoon, 

and the whole flock had had two hours of freedom. 

Ten eggs... TEN from the henspa today.  Not many.  

Everyone be careful out there!