The pullets don’t know anything about rabbits, so I wasn’t too worried about introducing Phoebe to them. Phoebe galloped through them, and they scattered. But the Old Girls have years of experience with the Empress Candy, and I didn’t know what sort of a welcome they’d give her. I let Phoebe out of her hutch and watched.

Betsy, though diminutive, never put up with Candy’s hijinks, so when Phoebe hopped over to say hello,

I wasn’t at all surprised that Betsy made a show of how little she wanted to get to know this new rabbit.

Phoebe, in classic rabbit insouciance, was not impressed.

Next, Phoebe decided to go inside to visit with Buffy. Buffy was in her “leave me alone” place.

Phoebe did not leave Buffy alone. Buffy started chuck-chuck-chucking in a loud and agitated manner. She heaved herself up. She  walked over and pecked Phoebe’s nose.

Phoebe wasn’t thinking much of this welcome, but, she wasn’t ready to give up yet. Off she went to say hello to Twinkydink.

It goes without saying that the old Australorp was uninterested in amusing this young bunny. So, Phoebe galloped about on her own,

and when she tired of that, she went back into her hutch. Life in the penthouse, Phoebe said, is fine.

I fear that she is already plotting ways to amuse herself… at the chickens’ expense.

I’ve been paying close attention to the Gems’ egg laying. Someone is leaving this egg, willy nilly, outside on the dirt, inside on the shavings, but never in the nesting box. The egg is misshapen, lacking it’s outer protective bloom, and thin-shelled. I want to know who is producing it.

Since the girls often lay in the same box, it’s hard to tell which egg belongs to which hen. This is true even for chickens that are touted to lay eggs with distinctive colors. I have two hens that are supposed to lay dark brown eggs: Jasper the Welsummer and Onyx the Barnevelder. Neither lay chocolate-colored eggs. In my flock, the hen that lays the darkest egg is Ruby, the Rhode Island Red. Ruby and Garnet are the same age and same breeding. Awhile back, Ruby had issues with laying large, pale, thin-shelled eggs. I stopped feeding table scraps like rice and bread, and the laying went back to normal. Normal, that is, for these two Rhode Island Reds. Ruby lays that dark egg. Garnet lays the pale one.

Rhode Island Red eggs

Despite raising chickens whose DNA is tightly controlled and in a narrow range, variation in egg color, size and shape happens at the large factory farms, too. However, what makes it into the cartons sold in supermarkets is uniform because all non-conforming eggs are diverted for other uses, like powdered eggs. This is done by machines. Because of this, the average consumer thinks that all eggs are the same. Those of us with backyard flocks know that is far from the truth, and in fact find the differences charming.

But, an egg like that discolored thin one can be an indicator that something is amiss with a hen. So, I have been spying on the hens via the BarnCam, and running outside whenever I think that a hen has laid, and collecting the eggs while still warm, and so I have identified which egg belongs to which hen. Note that Florence, Agatha and Etheldred are all Speckled Sussex, and yet there is variety in the color, shape and size of their eggs. Each egg is unique, and is consistent day after day for each hen. For example, Florence’s egg is always the smallest and the shell texture not as smooth as the others.

I’ve narrowed down the odd-egg culprit to either Onyx or Jasper. Neither have laid for the last two days. That lack of production might be due to Edwina in their midst. Both Jasper and Onyx are the lowest status hens in the group. Edwina has been sleeping in the nesting box and stomping around the coop, which could put anyone off laying! However, this odd-egg laying has been going on well before Edwina moved in with the Gems. I believe that Onyx is laying that strange egg because yesterday she sat in the nesting box for a long time and looked uncomfortable, but didn’t produce anything. A rough and thin-shelled egg like that odd one is difficult to lay. I’ll be keeping an eye on her.

I’ve added a Chicken Keeping Workshop to my event calendar. This is your opportunity to come here to LIttle Pond Farm and learn all about how to have a healthy and fun flock of hens in your backyard. I’ll talk about many related topics, including coop design, feed, breeds, and chicken behavior. You’ll get to see, first-hand, how I maintain the coops and compost the manure. You’ll even get to inspect a chicken butt for lice!

This workshop is scheduled for Saturday, July 27. People have travelled from as far away as Seattle, Ontario, New Jersey, Maine, and Connecticut, to come here to learn about chicken keeping (and to see the Beast in her pond.) I’m located about 30 miles west of Boston, near the historic towns of Concord and Lexington. Summer in New England – and chicken advice – it’s worth the trip!

Now that Edwina has been banished to the Gem’s coop, the hens in the LIttle Barn have all breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Twinkydink and Buffy can rest their old bones while lazing amiably together in a dirt bath.

The pullets can roam freely, no longer in fear of the domineering Barred Rock.

For a mean old hen, Edwina’s lot is far better than it might have been. Edwina still has swagger so the Gems give her a wide berth. But, Edwina no longer dominates. She’s being left alone. Which is rather confusing to the old bully.

The Gems are a rather forgiving lot. They’ve allowed Siouxsie to integrate into the flock. Whether Edwina will eventually be allowed to forage in their midst and roost alongside remains to be seen.