I’ve been feeling guilty about our girls of late.  We have not been letting them ‘free range’ out in the garden for the last month or so.  That’s because we have a fence project going on and there is no barrier on the north side of our yard just now.

From our garden it’s hard to tell that a major section of that fence is gone.  That’s because there is a long row of rhododendrons on our side of the fence which masks it entirely, unless you are a foot-high chicken.  In that case, you can probably see between the rhodie trunks that it is clear sailing right through to the next door yard.

Actually, this fence project has been going on for quite a while, but only in very small increments and the chickens didn’t seem to notice.  But in late summer, when the project expanded considerably (or as one member of our household might say, “got out of hand”) the girls went on a DiscoveryWwalk.

We noticed right away and lured them back with the promise of scratch, but we might not always be so Johnny-on-the-spot.  And besides, if chickens can get out, dogs can get in.  Although our neighbor is not here most of the time, when she does come she is accompanied by an unleashed pup who would probably love chicken-on-the-hoof.

So the girls are confined to their coop and their run.  It’s a fine arrangement when the weather is dry, but in the rain… not so much.  It is muddy and not a lot of fun for hens used to the lawn and protective shrubbery of their usual ‘range’.  I feel badly for them but until the workman we have hired to set the fence posts shows up and gets to it, I’m powerless to alter their circumstances.

Therefore, it was quite amazing to me that one of the girls laid the biggest egg EVER – maybe even a triple yolker.  Somehow, I think of the daily egg delivery as a reward for the TLC we give those girls and when a huge egg arrives it naturally feels like an extra special thank-you.  But this time, I couldn’t help but wonder at what price to that poor hen!

And, even though I know it’s illogical, I now feel even guiltier than I did before. Owie!  Zowie!  Wowie!