Bucket of Chicken

We are starting a new routine here at the Grand Mad Farm.  My hours at work have been cut to 20 per week and I am hoping to make good use of the other 20 to generate the lost income.  Once my chemo treatments begin, I will have a better idea of what kind of schedule I will be on.  As I understand it, the first 3 weeks will be just one treatment a week, followed by a daily treatment for about 5 weeks.  This might be a little tougher to work around, but will have to wait and see how I feel.  In the meantime, I am using the extra hours at home to catch up on some neglected parts of my life, like doing my income tax return.

The 4 chicken girls have taken to living under the trailer.  On the plus side, they de-bug the area.  On the negative, if they are laying eggs under there, snakes are soon to follow. But then again, snakes eat mice, so that is good.  The Circle of Life goes on underneath my feet.

I was brushing my teeth the other morning when I heard a very vocal chicken outside the bathroom window. When I went out to investigate, I snapped the picture above. One of the chicken girls chose to lay her egg in the bucket on top of the dog crate. She is a little hard to see in the picture, but she nestled in next to the empty Alpo boxes. She was pretty comical, and I am sure didn't realize the relationship with Kentucky Fried.

When a chicken lays an egg, she clucks very loudly. I don't know the reason for this, maybe it is pain or maybe pride. Or maybe to attract a rooster.  It did remind me of the scene from "The Right Stuff" when John Glenn is humming the Marine Battle Hymn while in the bathroom getting a sample.

I found another egg later in the bucket, so at least 2 chickens are helping me out by laying eggs in a convenient collection spot.  Animals are endlessly entertaining; don't know how I could have a good life without all my critters around.