Our flock is now almost four years old. This is the first year when their egg laying has completely ceased during their annual fall molt. Telling you that we miss their eggs is a huge understatement! We are down to our last dozen. However, a few days ago, as I lifted the nesting box lid, I discovered Feathers as she gracefully got up from the nesting box. As I peered down into the box, I discovered an egg. I was ecstatic. The eggs had returned.
Yet, this one was different. I scooped it up. It was warm but instead of feeling a shell, it felt rubbery. It was squishy. I could see the yolk inside this silly normal sized egg. We had fun with her egg, as it sat above the kitchen window for the last few days. It was a show and tell, a real “wow” kind of story that the kids were thrilled to share with their friends.
As each day passed, the egg lost a little of its oomph, until yesterday when it looked like a pathetic deflated balloon. The rubbery coating on the outside had turned into more of a solid. It felt and looked like stale angel food cake, so into the garbage it went. Since that egg was laid over three days ago, no other eggs have been gifted to our family from the flock. It’s amazing how we cherished Feather’s pathetic odd egg. I think in some weird way, it gave us a bit of hope, that soon enough the eggs will return.
Come visit me over on my blog, Tilly’s Nest!
