Galinhas, Chooks, Chickens

Returning  to the broody hen, eggs and relocation story.

Friends who live in Cedros rang us up to ask us if we would like another chicken as he found one while strimming the grass. Sweet thing was sitting on her eggs and must have got the fright of her life when this blade came whipping past her head.

Returning from doing a job in the area (we look after holiday homes and take on any job where something needs fixing or building) we decided to go pick her up. She was sitting in amongst some bramble, so Nathan was trying to make sure he did not get his hands caught on them while trying to pick her up but as he got closer, she screeched and was off. Then we spotted all the eggs, at least 8. We moved the bramble and decided to return when it was dark. In the mean time we went home and built her a little T1 apartment for her and the eggs. The move was successful and the eggs were moved within 15mins. Lets hope they are still fertile. Simon found her sitting on them on Sunday and she has been on them ever since. Incubation period is about 21 days.

  Our new girly is black, slightly shiny feathers and we have called her Juba. Juba sits on those eggs in an absolute daze most of the day.

Counting we  have 3 bantam girlies, 1 rooster and in another pen a big white fat hen, her name is Blanca and her buddy is Outono  - she unfortunately looks like she needs a scarf, yup neck without feathers, just does not look right. Then Juba.

At the moment only the bantams or as they are known here galinhas da madeira are laying eggs. Did you know that even though the bantam eggs are smaller, they still have the same size yolk, as regular eggs, only the white is less.

During planting season they are in 3 A frame homes which are light and mobile and we keep moving them around, this saves on cutting the grass and they fertilise and till the ground at the same time. Once the seedlings get bigger and the chooks are no longer interested in them, we will let them roam the garden again.