13: New Girl in Town
1. The best compliment I received this week was when Joe and I drove down the mountain to Stuart to buy three new hens. I remarked to the poultry farmer – who raises everything from chicks to peacocks – that one of his crested ducks looked like Phyllis Diller. “I didn’t think you were old enough to remember her,” he said.
2. The new girl in town is a Buff Orpington pullet (born in March). She was the only brave hen of the three to come out of the coop on the first day in her new digs. Her shy sisters are pictured below and the place they all came from is pictured in the photo #3. 
3. In THIS blog post about whether to raise chickens or not, the author points out that most hens stop laying consistently at three years old, which she refers to as “Henopause.” She calls the times when they stop laying in winter or because they are molting or broody as “Pets Without Benefits” time.
4. In the same entry a reader commented that she named her hens Lady Gaga, Reba (a Red Star), Joan Jett (a Black Star) and Blondie. Another reader, responding to the subject of hens that aren’t laying being culled, suggested naming them Marsala, Teriyaki and Casserole.
5. Cool country names seen recently in local obituaries: Men – Hiley, Blueford, Coy, Rural, Garland and Camie. Women – Lessie, Maizie, Jewell, Nellene, Glyda, Dovie, Hattie and Linnie.
6. Get a compliment HERE.
7. Mama Mia, Okeedoke Luigui is HERE.
8. Just when I thought last’s week’s mention of the mimic octopus couldn’t be topped, I saw a whole show on the amazing changing, big brained cuddlefish. Watch is morph HERE.
9. With the flip of one letter pig becomes big.
10. Thankfully, with every 13 Thursday I write, a little culture remains to start the next batch for the following week.
11. A book the size of a ladybug? It’s so small it can not be read with the naked eye. Said to be sold at the World’s Fair in 1965 and marketed as the smallest book on record, it was once inside a case, meant to be worn as a charm or attached to a set of keys. See it HERE.
12. Now we are back to 9 chickens after losing a total of 5 since last summer (to hawks, a dog and an opossum). Nine keeps us in a good egg supply, but it’s also a good number because Joe and I both come from families of 9 siblings.
13. I think of the picture below as the Three Witches of Eastwick with the basket as their cauldron.
August 28th, 2013 9:03 pm
That last photo would be a good one for a caption contest. Opossum go after chickens? My neighbor almost lost one the ones we babysat earlier this summer to a weasel…he thinks.
August 28th, 2013 11:49 pm
Great photos! And an interesting read!
August 29th, 2013 12:20 am
OMG, I haven’t thought about Phillis Diller in ages. Now I have to youtube search for her so I can share with my dd.
August 29th, 2013 4:33 am
LOVE all the pictures of the Chickens and the names, too….There is something about Chickens that is so very very appealing to me….
That video of the water creature is amazing…!
As always, my dear Colleen, a fascinating and informative T13….And, as always, you include more than a touch of humor…!
August 29th, 2013 9:14 am
Nice compliment @1
August 29th, 2013 10:17 am
LOL one of the compliments was “We enjoy working with you, Janet”, which I find ironic as I’m getting laid off soon LOL!
That cuttlefish video was just outtasight! And I <3 Richard Hammond!
Also loved the Three Witches of Eastwick and thought pic was great!
Dave is the second youngest of 9, too 🙂
August 29th, 2013 11:38 am
Great post. That last photo looks like it belongs in a magazine. Excellent photography! 🙂 Happy Thursday!
August 29th, 2013 2:36 pm
# 9 makes me think of:
The word “listen” morphs into the word “silent” with the move of one letter.
August 29th, 2013 2:57 pm
They really are quite beautiful. I especially love the white ones with black markings. As always, I’ve learned something new here. Thanks!
August 29th, 2013 10:25 pm
Love the photo of all of the different breeds together! Happy Thursday!
August 30th, 2013 2:09 pm
A very rich and full 13, Colleen, wonderful how the trains of thought come and go. And I do like your new camera works.
September 1st, 2013 12:32 pm
Lovely TT, I enjoyed it very much. We raised chickens when I was child and I hated every minute of it. 🙂 The only thing I didn’t dislike were the eggs. After watching my parents kill chickens one year, it was a long time before I would eat chicken again.
September 3rd, 2013 5:50 pm
WOW! How did I miss this one. I really don’t know where to begin.
The tiny book is something else and I liked getting a compliment.
You sure are having fun with those chicks……I like the names in #4!!