Spring had arrived, and I was engaged in a battle of wits against my chickens. Worst of all: The chickens were winning. Rather than laying eggs in their nest box-the clean, cozy nest box I lovingly filled with fresh straw each week-my hens were disappearing into my Oregon backyard to do the deed in secret. No matter how hard I searched, I couldn't find the chickens until after they hid their treasure. Which meant I couldn't find "my" eggs at all.
Hiding eggs is a trait my flock inherited from their ancestors. In the wild, the safest nest is the best-concealed nest, yet I was still surprised that my domesticated cluckers would connect to their untamed roots like this. I felt betrayed. I'd given them a beautiful coop and a garden filled with warm places to sunbathe and shade for rest. Why wasn't what I provided good enough?
Denne historien er fra April - May 2023-utgaven av Country Living.
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Denne historien er fra April - May 2023-utgaven av Country Living.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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FARM and AWAY
When your country cabin is in a place called Summertown, you better believe there's plenty of fresh-air fun to be had
Homegrown Branching Out
A cross-country move to Washington's San Juan Islands prompted Audra Query Lawlor to begin preserving the region's heritage, one jam jar at a time
Picnics & Parties Just Add Saltwater
At her 1930s converted fish camp in Savannah, designer Elizabeth Demos keeps it casual for a come-as-you-are evening down by the dock
In With the Old Swing Your Partner
Sashay your way to a striking display with colorful Western square dance memorabilia
Across the Pond - All Hands on Deck
When a family of creative spirits sets out to restore a centuries-old English boathouse, the result is a jaunty seaside sanctuary
Country Comeback Quilty Pleasures
Equally timeless and trendy, pieced and patchwork quilts are comfort food in coverlet form
Currently Craving A Party-Ready Outdoor Kitchen
Mallorie and Jim Rasberry of HGTV's Home Town serve up ample Southern style at their family cabin outside of Laurel, Mississippi
Perfectly Imperfect Creaky Screen Doors
Nothing complements the come-and-go casualness of summer like this mesh mainstay
No Place Like Home
A worn and weathered set of skeleton keys represents a rich life under one roof.
Hide-and-Seek
Patience proves paramount when author Tove Danovich's feisty flock of backyard hens sends her on an unconventional egg hunt.