Tuesday, November 29, 2011

It's interesting to note...


that of the 18 eggs I've gotten in the 29 days of November so far:
 Every single one of them has come from Skippy, my White Leghorn hen:
Each one consistently weighs in at an impressive 2.75 ounces:
That's right, Skippy, you're my star:
Even if you do have dirty feet:
Considering this little gal is almost four years old and it's at a time of year when most chickens' egg laying slows significantly due to less light and molting, she continues to be an amazing producer:
And as for the rest of you slackers...yes, that means you, Princess:

And all you girls who have become nest box sleepers instead of nest box layers...(Dottie, Bippity, Spongebob and Thumper!!!):
Every one of you needs to take a lesson from Skippy.

So, keep up the good work, Skippa-doo. You're the only girl standing between me and a carton of those nasty, pale, tasteless store-bought eggs.
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41 comments:

  1. MichelleNovember 29, 2011 at 11:56 PM

    Funny; the vast majority of my November eggs have come from one hen, too - Buffy the Easter Egger (who lays gorgeous pale blue presents).

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  2. And This Little PigNovember 30, 2011 at 1:26 AM

    Go Skippy!

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  3. Alecia @ Tchotchkes etc.November 30, 2011 at 1:50 AM

    some girls tend to pull all the weight. I love your choke napkins - I've got the very same ones all the way down here in Australia!

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  4. clairzNovember 30, 2011 at 4:34 AM

    And she looks rightly proud! I loved this intro to hens I hadn't met before, and am glad to see that I don't have the only nest-box-sleepers. Love the names (Bippiti!), Danni!

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  5. Hidden Haven HomesteadNovember 30, 2011 at 4:57 AM

    Wanna come give mine a pep talk? LOL

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  6. CarlaNovember 30, 2011 at 5:20 AM

    You go, Skippy!!
    I bought grocery store eggs about a month ago because all my girls have quit laying. I can barely choke one down, they're so tasteless and pale.

    PS..Love your new background and header!

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  7. the7msnNovember 30, 2011 at 5:29 AM

    Three cheers for Skippy! And a hoo-rah to Danni for having chicken-themed cocktail napkins.

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  8. ChristineNovember 30, 2011 at 6:25 AM

    Good for you, Skippy. I admire a hard working girl. Especially at your age. You could teach the girls around here a thing or two that's for sure.

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  9. OmaLindasOldeBaggsandStuftShirtsNovember 30, 2011 at 6:34 AM

    I love that your chickens "love" you back. Never really thought chickens were cute until you and Carson introduced me to your girls with personality. I'm a fan of chickens now. Who woulda thunk it? Oma Linda

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  10. goatgirlNovember 30, 2011 at 6:46 AM

    I had to buy a carton of those nasty store bought eggs. We don't have a Skippy in the flock....only slacker girls.
    I had a dream about you last night chicken sis. I came and visited Critter Farm. But for some reason you had three little boys and about 20 goats:)

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  11. drypondNovember 30, 2011 at 7:02 AM

    Way to go super girl Skippy !!!

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  12. AnonymousNovember 30, 2011 at 9:06 AM

    Good job Skippy!!!
    Linda in Mississippi

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  13. CaliforniaGrammyNovember 30, 2011 at 9:27 AM

    Way to go Skippy girl! We're still getting eggs only from our New Hampshire Reds, and the days are getting shorter. Does that mean we'll have to wait until spring before we see any eggs from the other six? We're so new at this "chicken game" I look to your experiences to see what's coming next in my chicken-world.

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  14. SarahNovember 30, 2011 at 10:43 AM

    what a post, what pictures, what a proud hen! She is definatly one for consistancy, isn't she? And by the way, I LOVE the new blog look and header photo!

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  15. LindaGNovember 30, 2011 at 11:15 AM

    Awesome post and wonderful pictures. :-)

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  16. janitabeanNovember 30, 2011 at 1:11 PM

    Skippy's an overachiever. She deserves a vacation, maybe a trip to the 7MSN Ranch or Hawaii.

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  17. Chai ChaiNovember 30, 2011 at 3:23 PM

    Just curious, how many eggs do you think you have gotten from SpongeBob this year?

    I'm having the same issues here, the only one laying is Lucy the lone Rhode Island Red.

    I read somewhere that Leghorn's and RI Reds are by far the best egg producers, maybe it was accurate.

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  18. Farmer JenNovember 30, 2011 at 4:14 PM

    Good job Skippy! And I have that exact same Farmer's Almanac Gardening calendar. Only mine does not have that egg-cellent (hen scratch) notation on it...Ha!

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  19. ZitroneNovember 30, 2011 at 4:40 PM

    Man, is Skippy proud. Look at that long neck and the gleam of superiority in her eyes. She can be my houseguest any time. Don't tell Honey, though, who did lay me an egg every other day.

    And those nest sleeping slackers - they are simply adorable!

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  20. Pattie WallNovember 30, 2011 at 4:50 PM

    I love goal setting hens! You go Skippy girl!

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  21. Pattie WallNovember 30, 2011 at 4:50 PM

    I love goal setting hens. You go Skippy girl!

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  22. Dianne RodwayNovember 30, 2011 at 10:33 PM

    I read every one of your posts! Someday I want chickens or a neighbor with chickens. In the meantime I saw this article about Amazing Skippys, in case you are interested. If this isn't something to publish, I am ok with that. You can read it yourself and that is perfectly fine for me. Oh, and nice new banner photo!

    http://thegardenchronicle.blogspot.com/2011/11/leghorn-they-egg-laying-machine.html

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  23. farmladyNovember 30, 2011 at 10:44 PM

    Skippy looks a little tired. Did you tell her she doesn't have to make up for ALL the "slackers"?
    But...It is nice to have an over-achieving hen in Winter. I got ONE egg today... egg production has almost come to a screeching halt.

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  24. jaz@octoberfarmDecember 1, 2011 at 2:47 AM

    i am having major egg envy here. look at the size of that egg!!! skippy is da bomb!

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  25. jeanDecember 1, 2011 at 7:39 AM

    Skippy is worth her weight in gold.

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  26. DreamingDecember 1, 2011 at 7:44 AM

    Yup, Skippy needs a trip and some time off! But, then you wouldn't get any eggs! Tell those other girls to get to work!
    OK...I've never heard of 'choke napkins' before (Alecia). It's fun to learn new things!

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  27. jillianDecember 1, 2011 at 8:15 AM

    Yay for Skippy! Our girls have really gone slack, also. It is nice to have one be consistent still. Love those photos of her, too.

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  28. SuzanDecember 1, 2011 at 9:51 AM

    Skippy is so cute!! Great photos!!

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  29. Mike PortnoyDecember 1, 2011 at 10:26 AM

    I know what you mean about the dull store-bought eggs with yolks the color of Los Angeles smog and whites that are cloudy due to age. I love farm-fresh eggs, their bright yellow yolks and clear whites.

    I recently cooked a wonderful herb frittata at a B&B using local, fresh eggs. What a difference, the guests wanted to recipe but it was really all about the eggs.

    Kudos to Skippy!

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  30. JaneKDecember 1, 2011 at 5:04 PM

    you know I'm partial to your little Skippy! good girl! and maybe I could perform my life with as much consistency!

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  31. ZitroneDecember 1, 2011 at 5:24 PM

    I just had to comment one more time: Skippy's portrait at the top of your blog is award-winning! Clarity, light, and expression are simply fantastic!

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  32. KnatoleeDecember 2, 2011 at 5:12 AM

    Nice work, Skippy girl!!! Love that first pic.

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  33. AutumnDecember 2, 2011 at 5:21 AM

    Go Skippy!!!

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  34. Karen AnneDecember 2, 2011 at 7:32 PM

    That's a lot of work and must take a lot of nutrients, Now that I think of it, it's kind of amazing that hens lay eggs that often.

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  35. Razzberry CornerDecember 3, 2011 at 6:00 AM

    My egg production recently has picked up. The ladies are finishing up molting (well, most of them are), and the eggs are coming in great now! I don't have any full-blooded leghorns, but have a leghorn mix, Bella, who is a great egg layer. My sweet Bell Baby. It's amazing you still count and weigh every egg! I used to, but stopped years ago!

    Give Skippy a rub under the wattles from Lynn! Some of my ladies also like a rub down the back of the neck under the feathers; if Skippy likes that, then please give her a neck rub from me! (The neck rub is Danni hens favorite).

    ~Lynn

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  36. sugarcreekstuffDecember 3, 2011 at 6:45 AM

    Oh Skippy you're so fine,
    you lay eggs most of the time,
    hey Skippy, (clap, clap, clap)
    hey Skippy. (clap, clap, clap)

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  37. LyssaDecember 3, 2011 at 11:10 AM

    And she's cute, too! I'm thinking of ordering some white leghorns next time my mongrel flock needs an update...the mix of old standard breeds and bantams I have now are pretty, but not so much on the laying power.

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  38. Morning Bray FarmDecember 3, 2011 at 5:30 PM

    Way to go, Skippy!

    Okay, stupid question. How do you know the eggs are Skippy's? Are they a different color?

    She's gorgeous, by the way. :)

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  39. Carolynn AnctilDecember 4, 2011 at 7:51 AM

    Those look like some fabulous eggs! Skippy is certainly the star there, although she looks a bit stern. I suppose she has a right to be ticked off with her lazy roommates.

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  40. Steven PageDecember 4, 2011 at 12:51 PM

    Yes, nothing like fresh farm eggs. We have the brown eggs, and the chickens are free range, eating grass all day.

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  41. Prairie CatDecember 4, 2011 at 6:17 PM

    What great photos!

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