Last year, the hens started laying again in February, so this year when they started looking interested in the boxes again, I cleaned out the old straw and put in fresh, along with some dried lavender (for the calming effect and to deter insects). They were very keen to see what I was doing, but I suspect it was just to dug through the straw and see if I left treats. None of them are doing the submissive squat, so I think they aren’t ready to lay yet.

I also put a golf ball in last year’s favorite nest. Here’s hoping.

I have discovered that if I close all my apps and check my chicken web cam before I fall asleep or right when I wake up, I’m more likely to have access to the camera and recorded footage, without the dreaded infinite spinning wheel. So maybe my pillow is a conjunction which allows smooth communication between the camera, the network, and my phone. Hm. Or maybe everyone else is asleep and the network isn’t bogged down with traffic. But those are contemplations for another time. Here is a still of the chickens coming out of their coop after 7am because it is cold (but I can tell in the video feed the water isn’t frozen in the run, despite being 25 degrees outside, so that’s nice).

And then it didn’t. The saga of the in and out web cam in the coop continues. It was working on the 4th, then not working today. Maybe someday I will figure out under what circumstances everything works, rather than just being buffeted by random happenstance. The camera is on the edge of the wifi range, even with an extender plugged in at the corner of the house closest to the coop, so things are going to be a bit wonky. I am not ready to invest more money into the system, as the chickens are really predictable, going to bed before the automatic door closes, and not getting up and about until well after the door opens, but it is nice to be able to check on them without hauling down to the coop. (Especially when wearing a boot brace. Yes, I’m still shackled.)

Since it is Friday, and I have happy healthy hens, I have a fluffy butt Friday photo to share. Showing off the girl’s fluffy tails is such a big thing with chicken keepers because chickens that don’t have poofy bums are having health issues. To see a line of clean derrieres is an outward sign that they all might be healthy, which is a great feeling for a carer. I say “might” because they still need their health checks, to part the feathers and look for blocked passages and pests, but a butt that is outwardly dirty is a sign that needs immediate attention. So here is to more fluffy butt photos!