• My account
  • Cart
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

The Coeur d'Alene Coop

Raising Chickens and Urban Gardening

  • Home
  • About Our Heirlooms
  • About Candace
  • Shop
  • CdA Coop Blog
    • Gardening
      • Garden Seed Series
      • Growing Tomatoes Series
      • Growing Garlic Series
    • Backyard Chickens
    • Recipes
  • Podcast
  • Garden Glossary
    • Q/A Sheet: How to Decide What to Grow in Your Garden
    • Ripe for the Picking: A Quick List of Common Fruit and Vegetables to Ripen On or Off the Vine
    • Vegetable Plant Family Chart
    • Seed Starting Charts
  • Contact Us
You are here: Home / Backyard Chickens / Hens and Housekeeping

March 31, 2009 By Candace Godwin 2 Comments

Hens and Housekeeping

Mother Hen. Every flock has one (animal or human) — ours happens to be Helen, a Rhode Island Red; who also happens to be a homebody and an extraordinary housekeeper. She was named in memory of my mother – but not for any of those reasons. As a chick Helen was the bossiest – and it just seemed right that she should bear my mother’s “given name.”

Helen out grew her bossiness when she was no longer the largest of our girls (there’s that pecking order!); and became quite the henhouse keeper. While the other girls are out enjoying a romp in the yard, Helen stays nearby the coop – running in and out of the pen and coop making certain everything remains in order.

She’s nearly obsessed with what goes on in that coop. The other girls can just forget about any privacy while laying an egg. She’s right there with you sister! Checking your progress and happily chiming in with you as you announce your success.

Imagine my surprise when I opened the coop’s egg door to find two hens jammed in the 10 inch by 10 inch nest box. Buttercup neatly tucked in on the inside, and Helen, squeezed in, on the outside. A few minutes later I retrieved two fresh eggs. Now that’s teamwork!

Helen likes things tidy and I often find a single egg in the middle of the coop floor. I suspect that she has rolled this egg out of the nest and away from the others for a reason that only makes sense to a bird brain. Lately it’s been the egg of one of the Barred Rocks. Perhaps this is her way of getting back at the pecking order.

I guess we all have our idiosyncrasies, but she’s a good reliable layer and an excellent housekeeper. My Mom would approve.

Filed Under: Backyard Chickens Tagged With: chicken coops, egg production, raising chickens

Get Garden Tips & More

« Sweet Basil Starts
Bucolic Bliss? »

Comments

  1. Heather says

    April 4, 2009 at 3:12 pm

    I am with Helen, tidiness is highly important. I am from Council, ID and just ordered my very first chickens yesterday. I can’t wait to be a chicken keeper. I will read all your posts for more info.
    Heather

    Reply
  2. Tatyana says

    April 5, 2009 at 3:05 pm

    I don’t have chickens, but I enjoyed your post! Thanks!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts from The Coop

  • Quick Spring Crops to Grow In Your Garden Now April 8, 2023
  • Now is the Time to Prepare Your Garden for Spring Planting April 7, 2023
  • Seed Starting Essentials: How to Germinate Difficult Seed March 1, 2023

Search Our Plants Here

Shop by Category

Cart

the coop on facebook!

The Coeur d'Alene Coop is at 2nd Street Chicken Ranch.

1 day ago

The Coeur d'Alene Coop
Greenhouse update! Finished framing, sidewalls went up, followed by interior painting ( white to keep it bright!). Next, the roof panels went on, ahead of schedule due to pending rain, and finally, siding is going up. Still need to frame out the windows, which have been stripped and reglazed, as well as the roof vents, side poly panels, double entry doors, roof cap and exterior painting, and finally, install shelves. Getting closer!#thecoeurdalenecoop #greenhousebuilding #dreamtoreality #greenhousegrowing ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

the coop on instagram!

thecoeurdalenecoop

Greenhouse update! Finished framing, sidewalls wen Greenhouse update! Finished framing, sidewalls went up, followed by interior painting ( white to keep it bright!). Next, the roof panels went on, ahead of schedule due to pending rain, and finally, siding is going up.  Still need to frame out the windows, which have been stripped and reglazed, as well as the roof vents, side poly panels, double entry doors, roof cap and exterior painting, and finally, install shelves. Getting closer!

#thecoeurdalenecoop 
#greenhousebuilding 
#dreamtoreality 
#greenhousegrowing
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Join the Flock!

Sign up to get gardening & chicken keeping tips delivered to your inbox.

Copyright © 2023 The Coeur d'Alene Coop · Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83814 · Privacy Policy · Log in
Website Design: Godwin Marketing Communications LLC