CoopCam in Mashpee

I love that my Buff Orpingtons are so docile and friendly. Guest of all ages are interested in the hens and often go into the coop to hold or feed the girls (in all seasons). Here’s just a few pics;

Here on Cape Cod, it’s been hazy, hot and humid for days and days. I’ve needed to be watchful of the hens because if not cared for properly they can get heat stroke. I add ice cubes to their fresh water periodically during the day to keep it cool. Plenty of fresh leafy greens (thanks to my garden and the CSA) and watermelon and/or grapes as treats to keep the girls hydrated.

I’m also watchful of the in-(hen)house temperature, especially for the evenings. On the sweltering nights I’ve closed them in with the grate rather than the solid wood door. Plenty of air circulation. And as I had said before, the hen house is totally secure sitting in the well built run.

I have noticed egg production is down…could it be they’re too hot to lay an egg???

The outdoor cam is still not working. There’s no scheduled date for its repair.

Today’s Wednesday, and Pretty Girl appears to be back to normal. Apparently whatever was bothering her worked its way through. I am grateful.
The outdoor cam is still down. Plans are to work on it this weekend.

I picked up my first (of eight) “harvest shares” from the farm where I became a CSA (consumer supported agriculture) member. The box included; a bag of salad greens, radishes, turnip, swiss chard, hydroponic basil, bok choi, a petunia plant and a coupon to pick a quart of berries. It’ll be salads and a vegetable soup for the next few meals.

Here are the farm chickens.

The outdoor cam is still out of order.

Due to a power surge this morning, the outdoor cam is not working. I hope to have it up and running as soon as possible. No one will miss it more than me!

I collected four eggs from the henhouse and harvested my first bowl of sweet peas today. The raised bed of peas planted on St. Patrick’s day is a success. This crop along with the fresh lettuce we have been eating from the garden so early in the season is exciting. I only hope our other crops do as well.

It’s good for the hens too, they get the pea greens.

Each day when I walk my garden I am thrilled to see what’s blooming. Look at this spectacular Fireworks clematis.

And, here is a Jackmanii clematis that climbs the birdhouse pole.
These perennials are short lived, so I soak in their beauty.

The hens are loving the grapevines as they climb up the coop. They’re awaiting the fruit.

The season is early and there is so much more to come. I walk out in the morning and I wonder what’s opened today?

A beautiful spring day. Cool temperatures this morning warranted a sweat shirt while working about the yard. The hens lay in the morning so by early afternoon I went into the coop to collect eggs. Four eggs; everyone laid today. I did not have my egg basket so I put two eggs in a sweatshirt pocket and one in the other pocket along with my camera, and one in my hand. As I pulled to close the coop door, ploop….I dropped an egg. Since the hens started laying, it’s the first time I broke one!

After I cleaned up the mess, went into the house to make a note in the egg log….smash another egg broke in my sweatshirt pocket. Yuck!

Oh well, I guess this is the fate of being an egg collector!

This is what’s currently blooming in my backyard. (Periodically check out the Gallery, I will continue to click and add pics during the spring).