Twelve days of chickens...Carmen

And the final post of the Twelve Days Of Chickens!

Carmen Miranda, our Polish Crested, has been the star of the flock since the beginning. Referred to as Big Bird, “the Blonde” or a character from Dr. Seuss. Her personality is as different as her looks.

 

  She lives in her own world when free grazing, focused on finding a bug or worm. I really believe her eyesight blocks most of her view and she has tunnel vision.

  She stays with the group to a point when they first go out but, she will venture out from the group to investigate something new. With limited vision, she is not as alert as the others.

From the time she was a chick, she also had a very distinctive chirp. Now as a grown-up girl, she makes this horrible noise that sounds like a TV dinosaur call. I hear it when we haven’t been out to take them a treat. But sometimes she just stops in the middle of yard and makes it. I thought it may be a warning sound but the others look up for a second then seem to say whatever and go back to what they were doing. 

 

  We heard stories that other chicks in a flock will pick on the Polish hens. This was true when she was little, mainly pushing her out of the way for food. Now, grown up, Carmen seems to be holding her own and is more aggressive by pecking back if someone bothers her. She has appeared to earn some respect from the others.

Don't like this white stuff - please move it!

  
We celebrate today because she laid her first egg. She had started doing the squat when we got close the past few days, just like the other girls before they started laying. This afternoon I checked the nesting box and found her in there for the first time. Shortly afterwards there was an egg, small but beautiful.

....Harry

Twelve Days of Chickens...Julie

Julie Newmar our Light Brown Leghorn has transitioned through several phases in the first 6 months. 

As a chick she was always the fastest, hardest to catch and was nicknamed speedy. She looked very similar to Raquel but her method of slipping away set her apart.

As a teenager, she was the first to get her comb and to date has the biggest.  

 

It has a distinct shape extending in length toward the back and folds over.

--> Julie and Carmen are the smallest of the flock and seemed to become buddies in the teenage period. They both love bugs and worms and always head straight to the mulch pile to go digging together.  

This white stuff is WHAT?

Julie has maintained her speed by looking like a road runner darting across the yard. She continued to be hard to catch until a month ago when she started laying. She suddenly changed. When you get close to her now she will squat and let you pick her up. When we first let the dogs hang out with them, she was the first to come up and check out Ruby. She now comes up to us all the time and will sometime jump in our laps to see if we have food. 

What's up?

Her eggs were the first off white one we got. Carmen’s are similar but have a little more point to them.

......Harry

 

Twelve Days of Chickens...Audrey

(For anyone just jumping into this-
The Twelve days of Chickens….
Between now and Christmas/New Years each of us is going to post views and insights about each chicken in our flock (2 people X  6 chickens =12). )

As I mention on Katherine’s post, the Hepburn sisters were always hard for me to distinguish who was who until now. Audrey, now biggest of the two has the larger comb with a large blade at the end, folding over slightly. 

They both have that black and white distinct feather pattern. 

  Looking back at their earlier pictures, its cool how their eyes changed from a green to an orange color.

Both sisters were the first to start laying however we believe Audrey produces from time to time a slight speckled medium brown egg. 

  Audrey is more the Spa type of girl loving to take her dust baths each day. She was the first to dig the hole for bathing. Recently she has invited other ladies in to join her including her sister.

 She is a queen

 .....Harry

Twelve Days of Chickens....Katharine

For me, it was difficult to tell the difference between the two Hepburn sisters, our Black Barred Plymouth Rocks until recently. Both were out going but have good nature. They are always first to see what is going on.

  Katharine is now slightly smaller than Audrey and has a smaller comb. Maybe out of the two, she is the friendliest or maybe begs the most. 

  

She will be the first in your lap if she knows you may have something to eat.

Now well trained, they will jump up and steal the food right out of your hands. Both of them are big, fluffy and round. 

Sister Audrey on top

  When they run across the yard it reminds me of a balloon being blown across the yard slightly bumping into the air with a little grace. 

......Harry 

A Recipe For Christmas Egg Nog

1960 Christmas

Now that we have our own back yard eggs, eggnog is more special. It has been a tradition in my family to make the eggnog Christmas morning as far back as 100 years based on stories pasted on. The story gets more interesting. My father was a Display Artist and starting in the 50’s to the late 70’s, he was Mr. Christmas. We would have a different Christmas scene in our front yard every year winning countless awards.

Mid 60's Christmas

  Since I was a little kid I remember getting up and my dad would always have the eggnog ready to drink. 

Early 70's Christmas

We were very lucky that he put together this very special recipe for the eggnog in a story. Below I would like to share this unedited original version.

60's Christmas Spread

A Recipe For Christmas Egg Nog

 By John H. Hessen Jr.

Now at last, Christmas morn’ is here,

The last few weeks, too busy to cheer.

Long nights are past, busy weeks end too,

Painting Santa and carolers, holly and yew.

Hanging lights on the house, and on the tree,

A nice yard display, for all to see.

Even last days of rush, where you work are past,

About Christmas Eve, you’re off at last.

The rush to bustling stores to buy,

Last minute gifts, then home with a sigh.

Last night you wrapped so many presents and gifts,

You needed a highball to give you a lift.

Now over your coffee while the family’s asleep,

You start your Egg Nog, Quiet! Not a peep.

Twelve large white eggs I lay out neat,

After separating each, the yellows I beat.

Add a cup of sugar and three quarts of milk,

A cup of thick cream, stir till smooth as silk.

Now do not boil, but bring to a scald,

Then remove from the stove, pot, egg nog and all.

Now into the dining room and into the bowl,

Careful, do not spill, or Ann will scold.

Now back to the kitchen, the whites to beat,

Hurrying now, as you think how time is fleet.

Again to the bowl, add bourbon a fifth,

A cup of good brand, then nutmeg you sift.

Then fold on the egg whites with loving care,

Do a good job for good friends will be there.

Go rouse the family and pour each a glass,

Everyone smile, and lift, it’s no task.

We all give a toast, Christmas morn’ is here,

Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year.

70's Nog

 

I continue to make my eggnog Christmas morning and this year with homemade eggs. What’s nice is drinking it hot off the stove and as it cools it continues to improve through out the day.  

Twelve large white eggs I lay out neat, ( in this case, all white not required)

After separating each, the yellows I beat.

Add a cup of sugar and three quarts of milk,

A cup of thick cream, stir till smooth as silk.

 Now do not boil, but bring to a scald,

 Now back to the kitchen, the whites to beat,

Again to the bowl, add bourbon a fifth,

A cup of good brand, then nutmeg you sift.

Then fold on the egg whites with loving care,

Do a good job for good friends will be there

 

Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year.

........Harry and Liz