This morning I truly thought Butterscotch was on her last legs. She's always first out of the coop but when I opened up the hatch there was no sign of her. Whilst the other two tucked into breakfast she was still hunched inside in classic 'sick chicken' pose. A quick check over revealed nothing obvious apart from runny poos (sorry, too much information I know!) but thinking the worst I dashed to the shops for pro-biotic yogurt (in case it was sour crop) and we managed to get some into her beak. An hour later she wasn't interested in food or water and so we gave her some olive oil in a pipette (in case she had a blockage somewhere). Still no improvement.
At 11ish I went out (on a wool gathering expedition to Jolie with fine company in the form of Gina and Val) and when I returned there was this...
on the floor of the house and a bit bashed from the drop (she'd laid it from her perch)! I'd like to say I don't know who was more surprised, but judging by her expression I think it was Butterscotch!
Hey, congratulations. Is that the first?
That yarn shop looks so lovely too. I would love to go there.
Posted by: Joy | January 28, 2009 at 03:08 PM
How exciting! I love it's little pose in the egg cup -- you're too cute!
Posted by: Thimbleanna | January 28, 2009 at 03:12 PM
My parents lost one of their chickens when it got egg bound - poor thing. Luckily now they have been told what to do if it happens again.
Posted by: Esther Bultitude | January 28, 2009 at 03:20 PM
We got chickens last May and I still haven't got over the excitement with each egg they lay. It makes up for the destruction of the garden and the amount of poo, a sort of trade system I guess. Also means once you go into full production you'll be baking more.
Lisa
Posted by: Mrs Bun | January 28, 2009 at 03:24 PM
Some blockage!!!!!!
Posted by: Lucy Locket-Pocket | January 28, 2009 at 04:09 PM
Even the egg cups are stylish!! Flip flops are so the way to go for eggs!
Posted by: jill | January 28, 2009 at 04:18 PM
congratulations I think it is the first one! Thanks for your blog it is wonderful!
Posted by: Marisol | January 28, 2009 at 04:26 PM
Aww how wonderful! Was this her first egg? Did you get the chooks at POL? I REALLY want some chickens now!!! :( :)
Gemma x x
Posted by: Gemma | January 28, 2009 at 04:36 PM
So the same is true with chickens as we women? We have nine months to wait and somehow we are still surprised! ~Kelly
Posted by: Kelly | January 28, 2009 at 04:38 PM
O, this is so fun! The ladies are so cute! We have a little Hen and she is the sweetest thing! Full of personality, emotion and way to much Poo....:)
Posted by: Lisa | January 28, 2009 at 05:09 PM
I like the egg cup! Somehow for me it looks like a perfect one for this first egg :) These flat feet and the broken shell... You might me think I'm mad, but for me it's sooooo cute!
I'm already dreaming of having chicken...
Posted by: Kristina | January 28, 2009 at 05:10 PM
I love hearing about your chickens. Your last line made me laugh....surprise!!!
Posted by: Amy | January 28, 2009 at 05:13 PM
How Exciting! Hope it's the first of many:O)
Posted by: Jackie | January 28, 2009 at 05:18 PM
Clever old Butterscotch!
It was fab to see you again this morning, even if it was a flying visit. Hope we can make a longer one very soon!
Posted by: dottycookie | January 28, 2009 at 05:34 PM
Sadly had to lose my chicks when we moved but they are a delight to keep. Watch when they run towards you - I always liken them to old ladies hitching up their skirts for a dash out to get the washing in.. If you love reading about them I can recommend any of the books written by Francine Raymond, she runs The Kitchen Garden here in Suffolk it is a little corner of heaven with gloriously fussy Buff Orpingtons gliding around the garden. Enjoy the eggs - nothing better but don't use the fresh ones for baking..
Posted by: Teresa | January 28, 2009 at 05:53 PM
Yea for Butterscotch! Congratulations!
(love the egg cup!)
xo, Bren
Posted by: Bren | January 28, 2009 at 06:06 PM
So loving the egg cup, good for Butterscotch!
Am so jealous by the way as I would love to have some chickens but don't have the room
April xx
Posted by: April | January 28, 2009 at 06:23 PM
Congrats on your first egg - do they have a nest box where they can leave their future ones? If not that would probably make them happy. I used to have chickens and they were so much fun. I'm in the city now and I don't think they're allowed where I live.
Posted by: Pink Sky | January 28, 2009 at 06:35 PM
Congratulations on your first egg!
If you have any spare golf balls hiding around the house, stick them in the nesting box. The girls will think they're eggs and will therefore copy whoever is laying them and lay in the box :)
Posted by: Vonnie | January 28, 2009 at 06:50 PM
Ta da! I'd imagine a chicken's first egg is akin to experiencing childbirth. Get that bird a cup of tea and a slice of toast!
Posted by: Ali | January 28, 2009 at 06:56 PM
Awww, the little dear! Congrats on the first egg. I love that darling egg cup!
Deanna :)
Posted by: Deanna | January 28, 2009 at 07:56 PM
Our little Peep has just started laying as well. Harry is over the moon. Only our chickens free range all day in our yard so he has to look under every agapanther in the yard to find today's spot! Hope the next one's in tact and you can have the joy of cracking it yourselves! Jen
Posted by: frazzy dazzles | January 28, 2009 at 07:56 PM
poor darling - what a good story
Posted by: Annie Wynen | January 28, 2009 at 09:03 PM
Poor Butterscotch....
Posted by: Kendall Lloyd | January 28, 2009 at 09:18 PM
well done Butterscotch - way to go
lisa x
Posted by: periwinkle | January 28, 2009 at 09:44 PM
Glad to hear Butterscotch is ok, and CONGRATUMALATIONS on the first egg - a very exciting moment in hen-keeping I am sure
xx
Posted by: Rhiannon | January 28, 2009 at 11:21 PM
You are such a caring and loving mum! Reading about your chickens makes me realize we can do it too! Thanks for all of the info!
Posted by: Diane | January 29, 2009 at 01:17 AM
I'm just a random person following your blog, and I absolutely love it. You have so much going on - it's like reading an Emily Giffin novel with a hands and head to the ground spin. This story of the egg was to die for! Seriously. And the little stand? You're killing me!
Posted by: Mindy | January 29, 2009 at 01:51 AM
Boy, I hope they are not all that much work!
Posted by: Wyldhare | January 29, 2009 at 02:21 AM
Too funny!
Posted by: Jane | January 29, 2009 at 03:28 AM
Clever Butterscotch - pleased there wasn't anything serious wrong with her! It was lovely to meet you yesterday Julie.
Posted by: Gina | January 29, 2009 at 09:06 AM
The thrill of egg collecting never ceases!
Posted by: Dragonfly | January 29, 2009 at 11:52 AM
I love reading your blog & have nominated you for a Kreativ Blogger Award :)
Mandy
http://6ichthusfish.typepad.com
Posted by: Mandy | January 29, 2009 at 01:03 PM
Cute! I'd love to have chickens. Looks like fun! Do they like being petted?
Posted by: Yvette @ Capsule | January 29, 2009 at 05:08 PM
Cool egg (dent 'n all!) My friends just got their chickens on the weekend - so they're looking forward to future egg production too!!
Posted by: Di | January 29, 2009 at 06:06 PM
LOL!! oooo chickens, you are a brave one... I would be scared to death that they would peck me! Yes I watched Alfred Hitchcocks Birds ha ha ha ha....
Well congrats on your first little eggy......
Posted by: flutter | January 29, 2009 at 06:16 PM
Arrr that is so lovely. :) xxx
Posted by: Alex Mason | January 30, 2009 at 07:33 AM
Really Cute egg cup eggsactly right Butterscotch's triumphant first laid! Clever lady :)....
Posted by: Jenni | January 30, 2009 at 08:07 AM
Poor Butterscotch! Glad she is ok. We are thinking of getting some chickens. I'm broody but two kids is enough so maybe some hens will do the trick!
Posted by: Craftydramaqueen | January 30, 2009 at 10:37 AM
What a funny story.....in the end - oops, pardon the pun!! Butterscotch is a clever girl, now all she has to do is teach Toffee and Chick-chick! Hope you enjoy the egg and I am loving your egg cup :) xx
Posted by: audreycw@tpg.com.au | January 30, 2009 at 11:14 AM
well done to your little hen!! My boys break the eggs in our hen house looking for chicks!!
Posted by: Leah | January 30, 2009 at 11:38 AM
Hi Julie
When you get a minute, there's an award waiting for you on my blog. :)
Gemma x x
Posted by: Gemma | January 30, 2009 at 03:48 PM
Crikey! Congratulations to Butterscotch on her first egg. Not sure how much she'll be looking forward to the second, though!
Posted by: Emily | January 30, 2009 at 05:47 PM
Poor old butterscotch was obviously a little egg bound! That egg's still usable - brilliant! Well done the feathery girls.
Posted by: Emma | January 31, 2009 at 07:04 PM
Woot! Yay for the first egg!
Posted by: Nell | February 01, 2009 at 05:18 AM
I love that something as simple as an egg can be the most exciting event of the day!
Posted by: JanineBoyd | February 01, 2009 at 03:37 PM
I have been reading your blog for some time now but this is my first comment! Just wanted to tell you my chicken story. We have four chickens (three hens and a lovely cockerel). Today, we clean the chicken house out and decided to move the their house and run so that they had some fresh grass and found TEN eggs which had been laid underneath the hen house. We had no idea they were there as we thought that they had got the idea of using the nesting box!! We put them in a bowl of water to check they are all okay and not been there too long and they were all fine. Lots of baking to do tomorrow now to use them all up.
Posted by: Diane | February 01, 2009 at 05:52 PM
Your first egg! so soon,they must have settled in well to lay so quickly..must be happy in their new home!well done you x.
ps crocks are better than wellies or flip flops! in your fight against the poo!
Posted by: sarahsmile | February 01, 2009 at 10:48 PM
Bless her and bless you for playing chicken Mum. They do become part of the family don't they? Well done and here's to many more eggs for the family - hopefully slightly less cracked ones ;) x
Posted by: Gemma | February 02, 2009 at 07:19 PM
Hope little Butterscotch continues to be on the mend, and congrats to her for laying an egg!
Suzanne in CT
Posted by: suzanne urban | February 03, 2009 at 12:28 AM