This morning I truly thought Butterscotch was on her last legs. She's always first out of the coop but when I opened up the hatch there was no sign of her. Whilst the other two tucked into breakfast she was still hunched inside in classic 'sick chicken' pose. A quick check over revealed nothing obvious apart from runny poos (sorry, too much information I know!) but thinking the worst I dashed to the shops for pro-biotic yogurt (in case it was sour crop) and we managed to get some into her beak. An hour later she wasn't interested in food or water and so we gave her some olive oil in a pipette (in case she had a blockage somewhere). Still no improvement.
At 11ish I went out (on a wool gathering expedition to Jolie with fine company in the form of Gina and Val) and when I returned there was this…
on the floor of the house and a bit bashed from the drop (she'd laid it from her perch)! I'd like to say I don't know who was more surprised, but judging by her expression I think it was Butterscotch!
little cotton rabbits 
Hey, congratulations. Is that the first?
That yarn shop looks so lovely too. I would love to go there.
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How exciting! I love it’s little pose in the egg cup — you’re too cute!
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My parents lost one of their chickens when it got egg bound – poor thing. Luckily now they have been told what to do if it happens again.
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We got chickens last May and I still haven’t got over the excitement with each egg they lay. It makes up for the destruction of the garden and the amount of poo, a sort of trade system I guess. Also means once you go into full production you’ll be baking more.
Lisa
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Some blockage!!!!!!
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Even the egg cups are stylish!! Flip flops are so the way to go for eggs!
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congratulations I think it is the first one! Thanks for your blog it is wonderful!
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Aww how wonderful! Was this her first egg? Did you get the chooks at POL? I REALLY want some chickens now!!! 😦 🙂
Gemma x x
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So the same is true with chickens as we women? We have nine months to wait and somehow we are still surprised! ~Kelly
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O, this is so fun! The ladies are so cute! We have a little Hen and she is the sweetest thing! Full of personality, emotion and way to much Poo….:)
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I like the egg cup! Somehow for me it looks like a perfect one for this first egg 🙂 These flat feet and the broken shell… You might me think I’m mad, but for me it’s sooooo cute!
I’m already dreaming of having chicken…
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I love hearing about your chickens. Your last line made me laugh….surprise!!!
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How Exciting! Hope it’s the first of many:O)
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Clever old Butterscotch!
It was fab to see you again this morning, even if it was a flying visit. Hope we can make a longer one very soon!
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Sadly had to lose my chicks when we moved but they are a delight to keep. Watch when they run towards you – I always liken them to old ladies hitching up their skirts for a dash out to get the washing in.. If you love reading about them I can recommend any of the books written by Francine Raymond, she runs The Kitchen Garden here in Suffolk it is a little corner of heaven with gloriously fussy Buff Orpingtons gliding around the garden. Enjoy the eggs – nothing better but don’t use the fresh ones for baking..
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Yea for Butterscotch! Congratulations!
(love the egg cup!)
xo, Bren
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So loving the egg cup, good for Butterscotch!
Am so jealous by the way as I would love to have some chickens but don’t have the room
April xx
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Congrats on your first egg – do they have a nest box where they can leave their future ones? If not that would probably make them happy. I used to have chickens and they were so much fun. I’m in the city now and I don’t think they’re allowed where I live.
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Congratulations on your first egg!
If you have any spare golf balls hiding around the house, stick them in the nesting box. The girls will think they’re eggs and will therefore copy whoever is laying them and lay in the box 🙂
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Ta da! I’d imagine a chicken’s first egg is akin to experiencing childbirth. Get that bird a cup of tea and a slice of toast!
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Awww, the little dear! Congrats on the first egg. I love that darling egg cup!
Deanna 🙂
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Our little Peep has just started laying as well. Harry is over the moon. Only our chickens free range all day in our yard so he has to look under every agapanther in the yard to find today’s spot! Hope the next one’s in tact and you can have the joy of cracking it yourselves! Jen
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poor darling – what a good story
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Poor Butterscotch….
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well done Butterscotch – way to go
lisa x
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Glad to hear Butterscotch is ok, and CONGRATUMALATIONS on the first egg – a very exciting moment in hen-keeping I am sure
xx
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You are such a caring and loving mum! Reading about your chickens makes me realize we can do it too! Thanks for all of the info!
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I’m just a random person following your blog, and I absolutely love it. You have so much going on – it’s like reading an Emily Giffin novel with a hands and head to the ground spin. This story of the egg was to die for! Seriously. And the little stand? You’re killing me!
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Boy, I hope they are not all that much work!
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Too funny!
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Clever Butterscotch – pleased there wasn’t anything serious wrong with her! It was lovely to meet you yesterday Julie.
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The thrill of egg collecting never ceases!
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I love reading your blog & have nominated you for a Kreativ Blogger Award 🙂
Mandy
http://6ichthusfish.typepad.com
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Cute! I’d love to have chickens. Looks like fun! Do they like being petted?
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Cool egg (dent ‘n all!) My friends just got their chickens on the weekend – so they’re looking forward to future egg production too!!
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LOL!! oooo chickens, you are a brave one… I would be scared to death that they would peck me! Yes I watched Alfred Hitchcocks Birds ha ha ha ha….
Well congrats on your first little eggy……
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Arrr that is so lovely. 🙂 xxx
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Really Cute egg cup eggsactly right Butterscotch’s triumphant first laid! Clever lady :)….
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Poor Butterscotch! Glad she is ok. We are thinking of getting some chickens. I’m broody but two kids is enough so maybe some hens will do the trick!
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What a funny story…..in the end – oops, pardon the pun!! Butterscotch is a clever girl, now all she has to do is teach Toffee and Chick-chick! Hope you enjoy the egg and I am loving your egg cup 🙂 xx
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well done to your little hen!! My boys break the eggs in our hen house looking for chicks!!
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Hi Julie
When you get a minute, there’s an award waiting for you on my blog. 🙂
Gemma x x
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Crikey! Congratulations to Butterscotch on her first egg. Not sure how much she’ll be looking forward to the second, though!
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Poor old butterscotch was obviously a little egg bound! That egg’s still usable – brilliant! Well done the feathery girls.
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Woot! Yay for the first egg!
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I love that something as simple as an egg can be the most exciting event of the day!
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I love that something as simple as an egg can be the most exciting event of the day!
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I love that something as simple as an egg can be the most exciting event of the day!
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I love that something as simple as an egg can be the most exciting event of the day!
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I love that something as simple as an egg can be the most exciting event of the day!
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I love that something as simple as an egg can be the most exciting event of the day!
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I love that something as simple as an egg can be the most exciting event of the day!
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I love that something as simple as an egg can be the most exciting event of the day!
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I love that something as simple as an egg can be the most exciting event of the day!
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I have been reading your blog for some time now but this is my first comment! Just wanted to tell you my chicken story. We have four chickens (three hens and a lovely cockerel). Today, we clean the chicken house out and decided to move the their house and run so that they had some fresh grass and found TEN eggs which had been laid underneath the hen house. We had no idea they were there as we thought that they had got the idea of using the nesting box!! We put them in a bowl of water to check they are all okay and not been there too long and they were all fine. Lots of baking to do tomorrow now to use them all up.
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Your first egg! so soon,they must have settled in well to lay so quickly..must be happy in their new home!well done you x.
ps crocks are better than wellies or flip flops! in your fight against the poo!
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Bless her and bless you for playing chicken Mum. They do become part of the family don’t they? Well done and here’s to many more eggs for the family – hopefully slightly less cracked ones 😉 x
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Hope little Butterscotch continues to be on the mend, and congrats to her for laying an egg!
Suzanne in CT
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Congratulations to you and to Miss Butterscotch on her very first egg! The poor dear certainly must have wondered what was wrong. And such a good sized egg for a first… sometimes they are little mini eggs :0)! I’ll bet the girls enjoyed the yogurt too!
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What a heartwarming story! 🙂
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