The board blocking Chloe's nest was pushed to the side when I got home tonight. Thought I had to find a better board. But then there, deep in the shavings was a perfect egg!!!

Broodiness gone! Now if I could just get her to quit pecking my feet and legs. That, or as my husband says, don't wear shorts and sandals whn I'm on her side of the yard! But I'm an optimist. Maybe THIS time she won't peck me!

I wonder what she could be trying to tell you. Has she been around other people and does she do the same to everyone?

I really do keep wondering that too and no, she's not around any other people but me. When I sit in on her low roost, she hops up with me and doesn't peck...most of the time. But if I'm bringing food or anything else, she pecks-and hard. I stil lhave a bite mark on my wrist from a week and a half ago. Weird thing is if I'm wearing pants and sandals somehow she pecks my skin anyway. though she does like to peck at my clogs. Used to be she'd peck at me and the trowel when I would be cleaning up. Not so much anymore. I just don't understand the behaviour. maybe if I hold her more? She doesn't squirm and is pretty mellow when I do.

Wish there was a chicken behaviourist! If she were a dog, I'd either have reference books to check or people in the business of canine behviour.

She did get out of her new home via the ladder for the first time today!

Petey liked to peck at things, but it was never hard. She got me once on the bridge of my nose and once on the inside of my ear, and while it didn't hurt, the surprise of them did make me jump out of my skin. She could go on for the longest time at the same place. Mostly she liked to peck at really textured things, like polar fleece or rough materials. I just thought of it as chicken OCD.

Chicken OCD LOL!

OCD is exatly right!

The past couple of nights she slept in the nest, but came out as usual. Not acting broody. What the heck...if she likes the nest, she likes the nest!

Rita, thank you again for telling us about your "village". Chloe's still with me because of your experience.

So how's everyone else's girls? Hot where you are???

Mid to upper nineties here. Ruth has slowed down considerably, and I wonder if she's going back into laying mode. Someone is losing quite a few feathers, too. Seems early for the molt, but who knows?

Unpredictable. I swear that's what they are. Can you tell if it's Ruth's feathers?

I ask about your weather so I'll quit complaining and wondering if the girls are OK. Oh, how you do the 90's I'll never know. (Spoiled in that regard, I am)

I tried what Rene did by sitting on a chair, towel on my lap and had berries. First Chloe. Yep, she wanted those berries but not enough to jump onto my lap. Calliope hardly waited until I was seated. Took up my whole lap and ate all the berries. Olympia didn't have a chance. However....I brought some meal worms to them and Olympia flew up and onto my arm. I think it freaked her out so much she forgot about the worms for a minute. Just sat there, didn't even go after them. So I poured some to Calliope and gently let Olympia down. Made my day!!!!

I'm not sure who's losing the feathers, but I think it is her. I do worry about them every summer here, but everyone manages, so far.

I quit dispensing treats from a seated position, though I've considered taking it up again. After all this time, when I move to pick her up, Faye still thinks she's headed for the stewpot. She's always been very hard to catch. Probably isn't going to change now.

Is everyone still doing okay, Mary? All adapted to the segregation?

So far so good! Chloe still sleeps in the nest, but I think because of the way the coop's built it's not easy to get off the roost and down the ladder. And I'm afraid to say it.....she hasn't bitten me for a couple of weeks! I haven't picked her up, either but she hasn't gone out of her way to bite me. In fact she hangs around when I'm cleaning her area! And she has the adorable new sound when I throw seeds. Almost like a squeaky, "yes! yes! yes!"

The other two are fine. I think everyone's adjusted.

How are your girls? Still have the heat?

Off to agility class with my dog. She did the perfect run last week and got lots of hoops and hollers and high fives. Off course, she got a special treat when we got home.

OH! I planted trays of wheatgrass. The girls get some today.

I'm glad things have calmed down for you

Oh yes, we have at least a couple more months of hot, hot, hot.

Maybe that is Chloe's way of telling you she's happy, at long last! I hope that is it.

What do really good dogs get for treats at your house? Ours is diabetic, so the only one he gets is a bit of lean turkey after his insulin injection.

She has her training treats, but when she's super good she gets a raw meaty bone with a little meat still on it. She can go at it for hours. She gets so excited she can hardly contain herself, but knows she has to listen and "work" for the bone before she gets it. It's fun to watch. She was terrific today, even though her handler (me) was a bit off. She came through with flying colors.

Lean turkey sound like the ultimate treat. Mine will eat anything, but would love that.

Some of my strawberries are growing and then they'd disappear before I could pick them. It wasn't slugs. Then we caught her! My dog "nibbles" them off the plant. Who knew I'd need bird netting for my dog!?!?!