For the past few days, I haven’t collected any eggs from Blanche and Pearl. (They have their own separate smaller coop now just for the two of them. But that’s another story for another day.)
This seemed odd to me because they are my most consistent egg layers. There are no signs of anything out of the ordinary like egg predators. They aren’t molting right now which would cause them to stop laying eggs and use their energy to grow new feathers.
Early yesterday morning I did some investigation by flashlight before they had gotten up for their breakfast. Chickens can’t see very well in the dark, so they tend to stay put. I found some eggs hidden away in a small spot behind their nesting box.
They sleep on a roost on top of their nesting box, and they know I usually check for eggs in the morning. When there are eggs in their nesting box and they hear me feeling around in there, they usually give me a cluck or two. I had always taken this as their way of telling me that they wanted to get a little more sleeptime.
Now I’m not so sure. I think Blanche, my biggest girl, wants more than anything to be a Mama Chicken and Pearl is copying her and laying eggs in this secret spot too.
This makes me sad, because I tell all of my chickens almost everyday how I want good things for them so they are happy. I know Blanche wants to be a Mama Chicken and would make an excellent one. She is strong, alert, and has great patience. (After all, she practically raised her hatchling sister Pearl all by herself!)
Without any roosters around, Blanche will never have what she is looking for to make herself happy. She will never have baby chicks of her own to raise. It’s a reality I don’t like for her. Even if she did spend a little time visiting with a rooster and hatched some eggs, I’m already at my legal city limit with six chickens. (No roosters. No more than six hens.)
My heart shared her sadness and her loneliness. Should I take the eggs she has hidden away? They will never hatch. When she has enough in her clutch and becomes broody, it’s not going to be pleasant.
I don’t like the idea of Blanche trying to do the impossible, never giving up, and having a broken heart. I’d rather she be angry at me for “stealing” her eggs. Yesterday afternoon while they were distracted, I took nine eggs from their hidden clutch.
Things like this happen to people in different ways…like how we get angry when what we are seeking is impossible, even when it is a good thing that others have. So much of life seems out of our control during those times, and we are prone to become bitter and angry at what we perceive to be unfairness. Yet every day is a gift.
My Life With Gracie helped me see we won’t always find what we are looking for, even if we want it very much. Yet every day is a gift.
I will do my best to post each Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Every “Like,” “Follow,” and “Comment” is truly appreciated!
