Bitsy’s Backyard got a little bigger and extra noisy with the arrival of Daisy and Dandelion, 2 happy, hungry hens.
Still in quarantine, our sweet neighbor who had given us Darby and Delilah came over one night this week and added the two to our coop. Hoping to minimize the excitement and competition, they put them in right before bedtime. Well, Delilah was not as welcoming as one would have hoped. Masked up and armed with a flashlight, I went to rescue the new chickens. Can you imagine in the rain and darkness, climbing into the caged section of the coop? That was me still in quarantine but not wanting the local fox to find them out in the caged section. I caught them; opened the outside door to the coop and placed them in. Delilah was thwarted from keeping them locked out. Night one in the record books.
Now, the new hens figured out that the automatic door closes at dusk so they have learned to hop into the coop each night even with determined Delilah. One afternoon in a heavy downpour, Delilah stood in the entrance of the cage so Dandelion could not get into the coop where she would be out of the rain. When I checked on them, she was soaked through her feathers just dripping from the deluge of water. Noticing our top girl in the entrance way, I quickly scooped up Dandelion and opened the side door of the coop. Another save. Many days have passed now and she still goes after Dandelion by jumping on her back, threatening her at the entrance of the caged section, but each day seems to be getting better. Thank goodness, it breaks a teacher’s and mum’s hearty to see the bullying in the backyard. I guess I have another book idea for the girls. As my son said that I can’t rescue her each time as they have to figure out the coop on their own. So hard to watch nature in my backyard but as Bowen said they are figuring out and everyone is laying eggs.
Welcome Dandelion 
Watch out for me! 
Welcome Daisy 
Today, was coop clean up with new mulch and wiped out boxes. Changing out the mulch, freshening up the coop keeps the smells away even if I still can’t smell as well as helping keep the eggs clean. I have been recycling the Whole Foods bags as they naturally decompose . I used them to line the nesting boxes to preserve the wood frames. I have used them in other parts of my garden as they break down naturally. Yeah Whole Foods – thank you. I’ll show you my shade garden soon and how I used them.
Nesting box with a Whole Foods bag – add mulch on top 
While cleaning the area, we let them out for a little run. I had my son further away from me guarding the front so they didn’t escape. He made a funny TikTok of them trying to get by me. One hen had something in her mouth that was not appetizing but the other chickens obviously thought it was.
Next on the agenda for the girls is supplementing their feed to have tastier eggs and help one hen that has a softer shell. I’ll update our ideas as I finish some research. They roam free, eats lots of bugs, fruit and greens. They eat Purina full pellet feed as well. Fingers crossed for some positive updates about the eggs.
As I prepare for my quarantine to end (prayers please) and school to start, I sense an uneasy stomach. What is ahead for us especially in Florida? With my blood tests tomorrow, I must refocus on the AIH and pray that my liver is still ok since COVID. I remind myself that I must take one day at a time. Place my trust in God and know that I am not alone.
Have the strength to ask for help as you are not alone as most people around you are willing to walk with you.
Bitsy's Backyard 