Smart Feeder - Light sensor values

[majuka]

We got Ella (Bluebell) and Esmerelda Araucana hybrid at the beginning of December.

 

Little Esme has been laying from the start but nothing from Ella. We were just about to take the dog for his walk when my husband came running from putting the girls in the run to tell me that Ella was sat on the nest box making chuckling noises. And sure enough, later on - here it is - Ella's first egg:

 

 

And next to Esme's egg:

 

 

Today was also the day we first had a proper cuddle with Ella (before the egg was laid). Since we got them, Esme has been quite happy to be picked up and cuddled whereas Ella has always been a little bit more cautious. We've been able to pick her up for health checks but it's not something she's felt entirely comfortable with. Well, with the snow today Ella was stood there not sure what to do. I went up to her and crouched down and stroked her. Instead of running off she stood there while I stroked her (she must have decided that I was less scary than the snow ) I went to pick her up and she was quite happy so I carried her over to the grass where we had dug them a path, I wanted to keep snuggling her but didn't want to push it so I put her down. I thought she'd allowed me to pick her up because she couldn't run away because of the snow, now I am wondering if she has just changed slightly that she has come into lay - or maybe she has finally realised that hubbie and I actually aren't all that bad

[BizzyMomma]

Well Done Ella!!

 

My BlueBelle Eva has been much easier to handle and cuddle since she came into lay too FWIW??

[majuka]

That's interesting Bizzymomma, thank you These girls are our first non ex batts so it's still a leaning curve for us with our youngsters!

[superkitty]

Well done Ella! mine have gotten much easier to handle since they came into lay. Constance seems to actively like it! Hopefully yours will too do you can get lots of cuddles.

[majuka]

Thank you Superkitty. This is great news, I was hoping it wouldn't be a one off because she couldn't run away in the snow. Most of our ex batts have been happy to be picked up, although not necessarily straight away, but when we went near Ella she would run off squeaking as if we were really evil things to be avoided I hope she will be more cuddly from now on. Hubbie nearly dropped his shovel in shock when he saw me coming up the path with Ella in my arms. He couldn't believe that she'd let me pick her up!

[Mum]

Clever girl, Ella

 

That egg tray is cute looking, is it ceramic?

[majuka]

Thanks Mum We had another one today

 

It is ceramic, we got it from a local independent kitchen shop when we got our first girls in 2008. I've had a quick look on their website to see if they are still doing it but can't find anything listed for it. So many special girls' eggs have sat in there, it is like a little piece of history.

[Cheeky Chooky]

Awww well done Ella The eggs look lovely...have you eaten them yet?

[majuka]

Not yet Cheeky Chooky I wasn't at work on Monday and my husband said (in a rather sad voice) 'you could have Ella's egg for breakfast' which was very tempting, but being kind, I said that I would wait until there were at least two so we could each have one. There are now 3 Ella eggs and 4 Esme eggs so we're spoilt for choice. I'm really looking forward to them!

[Cheeky Chooky]

They'll be yummy!

[majuka]

They'll be yummy!

 

They most certainly were!!! Well done Ella.

[Cheeky Chooky]

Ah, you had them this evening! How did you cook them? Poached, fried or scrambled?

[majuka]

We had them fried and they were so tasty. It seems like such a long time ago now but it was only last night. This is a happy thread but I have another thread about our ex batt, Jemima, being ill ? mycoplasma. Little Jem died, we think sometime in the early hours of this morning