We are all Irish today

We have green eggs (but no ham).

We have green food for parrots.

 Green treats for everybody.

I refuse to turn my whole wheat Irish soda bread green; it wouldn't match the plate.

And we don't need to wear green hats or scarves because we are growing moss.

Spring chick laying

Bazooka started laying eggs last week, a month or so earlier than I expected.

Hers is the brownish-pinkish egg in the middle.

All black feathers I've seen on chickens have that green iridescence. Unfortunately, it takes a much more sophisticated camera than mine to capture the full effect.

Announcing--

--the first egg of the season, courtesy of Muffin.

I didn't install extra light this winter so that the hens could rest up for spring and summer laying. Now that they're in their second or third--I can't keep track--season of laying, there won't be as many eggs. With the two Polish chickens off cavorting with a rooster at a new home, my only layers are Muffin and Brangelina. Little Edna might lay an egg or two, if she feels like it. Modern Game chickens are mostly decorative, as you can see below.

This magazine cover is pictured on the website of the Modern Game Bantam Club of America. Since it's dated 1932, I assume it's out of copyright.
I plan to add a couple of chicks to the flock this spring but finding another Modern Game Bantam is unlikely. This variety doesn't show up in the feed stores and, so far, I haven't found any local breeders. I'll just have to keep searching.

Deadbeats

At the beginning of February, the Punkster laid six eggs over twelve days. The Poles usually lay every other day, not every day like the breeds cultivated for good laying. Every other day suits my small household but none does not. Despite oyster shell, jumbo meal worms, treats from the kitchen, and the usual chicken kibble, she is taking a vacation from egg-laying and DartMouth hasn't even started. The new girls are still too young, so I'm not worried about them.

Today I threw around some scratch feed to keep them busy and explained the problem. Then I leaned close to the chicken wire and warned them in a low voice, "Chicken soup."

Empty threat but they won't know.