Yippee, I'm broody!

[valeriebutterley]

Hello people,
remember me, Phyllis Light?
Well recently I've achieved my aim in life, got the mothering instinct and only want to sit on eggs.
Humum says I'm a fat (true) lazy (true) bundle of good for nothing feathers who just likes a good nest box to sit in and gaze into space, whilst thinking about little bundles of yellow fluff everywhere at my feet.
She misses my eggs (absolutely huge) and says please can I get over it?
Love to all especially all you would be mums, Phyllis.

 

[Marigold]

Hello, Phyllis, I'm Marigold, remember me? You are so lucky to have a more understanding humum than I have. I'm 5 now, and every summer I go broody several times, I just get that lovely sleepy warm feeling in the dark nestbox, ready to follow my dreams, and then She hauls me out and isolates me in a corner of the run with nowhere to get away from the bright light and cool air. I even get left there overnight, when the other girls go back into the nice dark coop and cuddle up all together for company. This goes on for several days until finally I give in, have a little sigh of regret at the way my life is slipping away, and She lets me out with the others again. Funny, after each time I don't feel I want to sit in a dark boring nestbox any more, I enjoy pecking around with the others, - until the next time.
However, I heard her say she's going on holiday next week, though, which means that her teenage friend Mollie will be looking after us, so I'm planning a sit-in, starting on Saturday. Might get a week's peace and quiet, who knows?

 

[valeriebutterley]

Hello Marigold and thanks for your kind reply, are you still doing the keyboard with your tootsies?
It is all getting a bit difficult here now, as Humum thought hybrids (which is what I am supposed to be) do not go broody. She says she always knew in her heart of hearts that I am a purebred as I am such a big girl. My looks, temperament, size confirm it.
I have a sinking feeling she might want her money back, as she bought me for eggs not looks. Luckily the Leghorn girls keep going without missing a day; maybe I'll ask one of them to lay a brownie for a change and SHE won't notice the difference.
I just love this dozy state I am in and aim to hang on to the nestbox as long as I can. I do dream of the patter of tiny feet, but I have not got a bloke as yet. The Pekin cockerel, Pierre is always courting his ladies but we layers do not mix with them, so no hope there. Ah well, back to the nestbox.
As always, love Phyllis.

 

[Marigold]

Hello Phyllis, nice to hear from you, I don't get much correspondence as a rule. I have explored getting my own Facebook account but apparently that's just for humans (though you'd think that, with human names like ours, it would be OK.)
I wouldn't worry about your humum sending you back. She's really soppy about her girls, and I'm sure she values you very much for your beauty and temperament - though I'd advise you to get back into lay ASAP, all the same. My humum says she loves me, but that I'm not the brightest feather in the coop. Still, never mind, I've still got my friend Nutmeg to show me what to do. We were chicks together and she's still the top hen, bosses us all about, me as well as those uppity younger hybrids. When the humum sprinkles corn on our raised plate at teatime, Nutmeg actually jumps up on the plate to get more than her share, and sees off any competition. Luckily our humum sprinkles some down round the edges for the rest of us, though.
Shame about your enforced celibacy, especially as I'm sure Pierre would be happy to try to oblige. No chance of that here, it's like a nunnery, what are we missing? Maybe Valerie will slip you a baby chick or two one of these days, then you can write to me about the sleepless nights, the worries and the joys of motherhood. Maybe it's not all it's cracked up to be, who knows?
Oh well, back to work - I can feel an egg coming on.
Take care, Marigold.

 

[valeriebutterley]

Hello Marigold,
did not need Pierre in the end, Humum bought me some nice Ancona eggs, another breed she likes, are rare, and like me, a bit, are black and white.
As I am still in the mood I will start sitting on them tonight, humum says it would be nice to have a couple of girlies, for more white eggs, I will do my best to oblige. I have to say I am getting a bit tired of this state of broodiness, as it makes me very hot.
The eggs are very big, and though I am a very big girl, these eggs certainly look a challenge to fit under me.
I hope you are having a stress free Summer, M., and all is well with you, love, Phyllis.

 

[Marigold]

Hi Phyllis, and congratulations on your lovely eggs. I am very jealous. As I told you, my humum was going on holiday for a week, leaving us in the care of a young friend of hers, so I saw my chance and took it. I spent three blissful days and nights in the nestbox, dreaming away, before She returned and turfed me out into solitary at the end of the run, in my private bedroom with no nestbox. I was very indignant for a while, but became resigned to it after a day or two, and am now back with the others. Oh well.
Stress-free summer! Pah!