Bev is our black hen - she lays blue eggs. I named her Bev after the mum of the ex-pupil who built our hen coop a few years ago. He had just finished a basic joinery course. I had known him since he was 7 and obviously knew his mum too. Bev had jet-black hair so it seemed appropriate.
Bev (left) is a broody hen this means she will get the urge to hatch some eggs, subsequently sitting on them for however long they take to hatch. The incubation period for a hen's egg is around 21 days. However - one slight snag is that our eggs are not fertile - (more of that next week).The main reason we keep our hens is for eggs, so whilst Bev is broody it means our egg production is down. Fortunately she has not been too aggressive and has allowed me to lift her off the eggs when I collect them. Broody hens can sometimes prevent other hens from sitting in the nesting area but again Bev has allowed the other hens to go into the hen house, often cuddling next to them, as seen with Mabel below.
A few days ago I noticed the rear end of one of the hens disappearing into the hedge...........they have been secretly laying eggs away from the hen house! Looking at the colour of the eggs I can tell Olwyn, Eva and May are laying eggs together.
This morning I captured Eva in action!
For more ABC fun follow the link in my sidebar.
We have fake eggs for the pigeons, when Miss Fenrir lays we swap it for a fake egg...she is usually none the wiser.
ReplyDeleteJane x
I'm sure getting an education about hens! Fascinating - and why are her eggs blue?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Leslie. Same question, too. Why blue?
ReplyDeleteOf course if you don't keep a rooster, the eggs are infertile, but I'd love to see little yellow chicks running about. Sigh.
Amazing that you can tell, by looking at the eggs, who lay them. I didn't realize each hen will lay her own kind of egg each time.
K
I love when you post about your chickens.
ReplyDeleteSo the way I understand it all your Monday ABC will be about your chickens ? If it is I am so excited !
cheers, parsnip
We had this happen a few years ago Denise when the eggs were fertile. One hen disappeared and we assumed that the fox had got her. Suddenly one day she turned up in the yard with three chicks. When David found her nest there were 17 eggs in it, so many that she had been totally unable to keep them all warm.
ReplyDeleteI didn't think my neighbors would let me keep a rooster but nobody has complained in the last year. While he takes his breeding duties very seriously, Frodo is also protective and nurturing of his hens. He makes a chortling noise when he finds food to call them over before he eats any himself.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post, and comment thread.
ReplyDeleteI think it's great that you can tell who laid which egg!
It is going to be interesting as you work your way through the chicken alphabet! Thanks for your welcome to ABC Wednesday, I am planning my post for B this afternoon.
ReplyDeleteI can see you have to watch those sneaky hens closely. :)
ReplyDeleteFascinating how different birds lay different-coloured eggs. It seems to have no nutritional difference, I'm told.
ReplyDeleteROG, ABC Wednesday team
What a fascinating post! I just love reading about your hens and looking forward to learning more. Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteAmazing! Is Bev part Araucana?
ReplyDeleteBoy...I'm learning so much about your hens. As others have said, I had no idea about hens laying different color eggs and the whole thing about brooding hens is fascinating.
ReplyDeleteIt seems Bev and the entire group of "ladies" will keep you on your toes.
I was not aware that different hens lay different colored eggs. With that kind of identification, they can't get away with much!
ReplyDeleteMaybe she lays blue eggs when she's broody and thus in a blue mood.
ReplyDeleteDid anyone ever tell Bev, she's an Easter Chicken...laying those beautiful colored eggs.
ReplyDeleteFresh eggs! We only get them from the store.
ReplyDeleteDear friend,
ReplyDeleteI must admit, I noticed a blue egg? In any case, looks good for breakfast (smile). Thanks for sharing.
I love the colors of the eggs!
ReplyDeleteSet of B's
Rose, ABC Wednesday Team.
I wonder if your hens could come and have words with ours?! We're getting very few eggs for some reason when usually, at this time of year, they're laying far too many for us to sell! ARrgggghhh!!
ReplyDeleteCJ x
I love your B choice and your pictures. A x
ReplyDeleteNice of Bev to be Black and to lay Blue eggs. She really is cooperating Beautifully for your "B" post. Like the others, I am learning a lot through your Blog. I love the picture of Mabel and Bev cuddled up together.
ReplyDeleteMy mum told me the same, sometimes, if the broody hen doesn't have enough eggs, mum would "borrow" some eggs from another hen.
ReplyDeleteWhen discussing the infertility of the eggs you say "more of that next week." May I be so bold to guess that your next entry will be "C is for Cock?" :-)
ReplyDeleteBut back to this week, my ABC Wednesday entry is Begonia Pope.