BawkBawkBowdler

[bawkbawkbowdler]

I know I have not posted here in almost two years but I have some sad news to report. Sanders, The General, and Nugget (as well as another unnamed hen) disappeared from my yard on Monday, seemingly without a trace.

There is no evidence of fowl* play - no blood, no feathers, no holes under the fence. Oddly enough, whatever happened happened in the only section of my yard not currently covered by my video surveillance system.

They entered that section shortly after I left for work on Monday and never walked back out or crossed any of the other camera paths.

Although reality dictates that something bad most likely happened to them, I’d like to think they were planning a jailbreak for years and are now having the greatest adventure of all time.

I guess the only thing really left to say is I’ll miss you and thanks for all the eggs!

*ba-dum-tssh

[bawkbawkbowdler]

The standoff. Also, introducing Rocket (he's the dog). 

[bawkbawkbowdler]

What is going on here!? I didn't have a quarter on me, but this egg that Nugget laid today would definitely be smaller than one.

My local chicken expert told me the scientific name for this phenomenon is a "fart egg"... I wonder if there is even a yolk in there. Tiny omelet anyone?

[bawkbawkbowdler]

What do you do when your chicken lays its first egg in a month?

Immediately drop it on the floor. 

Remember to check out all the eggs (posted daily) over at http://bawkbawkeggs.tumblr.com. 

[bawkbawkbowdler]

Please wish a very happy 2nd birthday to our older brother, Wascal the Rabbit!

[bawkbawkbowdler]

Today the BawkBawkBowdler chickens have reached a milestone of having laid a total of 100 eggs! Sanders in the lead at 49. The General at 22 and Nugget bringing up the rear, as per usual, with 7.

Now you can keep track of all the eggs (100+) at www.bawkbawkeggs.tumblr.com where I will be posting new egg pics daily.

[bawkbawkbowdler]

My little Nugglet has finally stop free-loading and has laid her first egg! Here it is next to the egg Sanders laid today. The General is currently taking a break, having only laid 5 eggs this year (after only missing 5 days TOTAL between November 15th and December 15th).

[bawkbawkbowdler]

So.... What was in that HUGE egg Sanders laid on January 1, 2014? Was it a dinosaur? an egg inside an egg? two yolks? a Cadbury Creme Egg? The possibilities are endless. Let's find out.

[bawkbawkbowdler]

Holy Humongoid Egg, Batman!

Sanders decided to ring in the new year by laying a freakishly big egg. Up top is today's egg next to the egg Sanders laid Monday. Below is the weight of today's egg and what Sanders looked like when she weighed that much (2 weeks old, folks)*.

What do you think is inside the egg? Multiple yolks, dinosaur, another egg? Let me know! I'll crack this baby open in a week to see who is correct.

Happy 2014 from BawkBawkBowdler!

* this egg weighs more than Nugget did after 3 weeks old.

[bawkbawkbowdler]

200 days old!

Here are the chickens after 200 days, represented as if they were 5 oz. cans of Tyson Premium Chunk White Chicken (Yes. I'm back to 5 oz. cans as SOME PEOPLE said it was less impressive switching to the larger cans) 

Merry Christmas Everyone!

[bawkbawkbowdler]

The chickens enjoying Thanksgiving dinner. Gobble gobble!

[bawkbawkbowdler]

The first dozen!

Ladies and Gents... today marks two great days in BawkBawkBowdler history! Not only was the 12th egg laid today, but the 12th egg was Sanders' 1st egg (The other 11 were laid by The General).

The eggs are in order on the plate starting at the top and moving clockwise. Sander's egg is the lighter colored one in the center. Now that this image is out of the way, I can start enjoying them. YUM!

Now it is time to have a heart to heart with Nugget to see what I need to do to get her laying, amiright!?

[bawkbawkbowdler]

GUESS WHO LAID AN EGG!?*

I just got home for work and checked on the chickens to find out that somebody had been poking around the nest box. Sadly, the only eggs in there were a golf ball and a rock egg.

BUT, when I examined the run, I saw a little brown egg tucked away in the nesting material! Judging by the color, I'd say that Sanders laid it. So, it begins!!!

* the brown one. The white egg is one I just bought from the store today. looks like THOSE days are numbered.

[bawkbawkbowdler]

150 days old!

Man... time is flying! Yet, still no eggs. What gives girls?! Here are the chickens after 150 days, represented as if they were 12.5 oz. cans of Tyson Premium Chunk White Chicken*. Bawk!

*Tyson Foods Inc. still hasn’t offered me any money for these posts… but if they wanted to… I still don’t think I’d turn it away. :)

[bawkbawkbowdler]

Tonight was the third night (not in a row, thank goodness) that I have gone out to close up the coop only to find Nugget missing. The first time I freaked out until I found her perched atop the fence. I've been told this is happening because chickens are mean and the other two keep picking on her....

So, now, whenever I find her out of the coop at night, she gets to come inside for some special daddy/daughter time, including getting the highest perch in the house and nap time under the covers (okay... it's a t-shirt).

She loves it and I'm convinced this chicken will lay golden eggs if I keep spoiling her like this. No, I'm not weird. Gosh!

[bawkbawkbowdler]

100 days old.

Here are the chickens after 100 days, represented as if they were 5 oz. cans of Tyson Premium Chunk White Chicken*. Bawk!

*Tyson Foods Inc. still hasn't offered me any money for these posts… but if they wanted to… I still don’t think I’d turn it away. :)

[bawkbawkbowdler]

I was doggy-sitting the ChewMonster yesterday and we were playing fetch with one of the golf balls I had put in the chicken coop as inspiration for egg laying. All was going well until the ball got away from him and rolled to where the chickens were pecking around.

As you can see in the second pic, fetch time was over.

The chickens are 13 weeks old, which means we are approximately 7 to 11 weeks until eggs!