Welcome to this weeks issue of @mother2chicks Weekly Chicken Gazette Issue #12.

Maybe if I renamed this post "8 hot chicks out on the range" the Gazette would get a bit more attention. HaHa! I'm joking of course. 

![IMG_2705.JPG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmNZo9ArVW5f4u8raubGqfFqSu8RDXUhKiqWtPAyovo23N/IMG_2705.JPG)

Actually I took a brief break this past Saturday because I had company all weekend.

**Can chickens really suffer with PTSD**
As a semi-professional here @mother2chicks I would scream a resounding "yes." The poor girls are still having a hard time recovering from the effects of hurricane Irma and 2 are recovering from the dreaded "molt." It's interesting to note that several of our chicken raising friends have declared similar problems. 

Poor things look like I have already started plucking their feathers getting them ready for the crock pot. Chicken and dumplings if they are not careful!

![IMG_2760.JPG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmdcYujBFjb6TmpoAfsbFtekymZdRbAHexgGvYH7sAWYDk/IMG_2760.JPG)
Blue's fluffy tail has disappeared and nite the pin feathers coming in.

Not only are the girls laying 1 to 3 small rather pointed eggs. Weird that they are pointie! They are becoming fussy about what they eat. They never tire of meal worms or veggies, but they are turning their beaks up at their regular feed. I believe they are spoiled in addition to suffering from storm trauma. It's been raining a lot, this entire area has received 70 plus inches of rain since May. Ridiculous!

![IMG_2762.JPG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmakik4cw5rFKgTuvAzQwSWTHkAZoQfLpugdxfm97UUbCw/IMG_2762.JPG)


When this rain finally slows down, we got 6 more inches late yesterday afternoon, it will be time to change out the girls chicken run. The plan is to expand it to a new block of fresh grass where they can prepare a space for the next garden. 

![IMG_2766.JPG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmVcbaSUE3QTNkhAoFVj71taC6ZUiu7mtibpvqYk8MyXPU/IMG_2766.JPG)
This pond is turning into a lake, I used to be able to walk to the other side.

We have been letting the hens free range more than usual. You know the old saying give them an inch and they will take a mile! It is nearly impossible to get them back into their coop. If you want to laugh, let your imagination wander as I get out my little plastic rake and chase them around and around the coop until I force them in through a little tunnel. 

![IMG_2765.JPG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmTdDkeeDvuakPKUVebv11ojRGomima5ybAopqS2sX1WJY/IMG_2765.JPG)
Dot's pin feathers also coming in, she is still in the molt.

It's become crystal clear the wild birds are beginning to migrate south. There are lots of beautiful eagles out soaring and tiny little Oriels. I have told the girls on more than one occasion that free ranging could be dangerous to their health. Like most children they just do what they want not bothering to heed my warnings. 

![IMG_2761.JPG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmSCmagkU2cdeysgvgqMcA9PVv6v7cHmnuxPTjpCTL6XWZ/IMG_2761.JPG)
The 3 amigos.

Meanwhile the field is full of baby hopping toads and a variety of other types of frogs. Those tiny little frogs make the whole field look like it is moving in waves. We have a regular choir most nights after the sun goes down.

**Weekly Egg Count**
Only two words to describe it: Double DISMAL & people keep asking if the hens are laying because theirs are not either. We speculate as to whether it's Irma induced or the ridiculous amount of rain lately!

Purchases this week: None

**This Weeks Recipe**

An eggless vegetarian take was requested by a Gazette fan @kiligirl during this time of egg famine. So here it is, ingredients and instructions

Ingredients
    * 1 red apple, grated
    * 1 cup wheat bran
    * 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
    * 1/4 cup All purpose flour
    * 1 cup milk
    * 1/4 cup pecans or nuts of your choice (optional)
    * 2 tbsp brown sugar
    * 1 tbsp butter
    * 1/4 tsp nutmeg
    * 1/2 tsp cinnamon
    * 1/4 cup applesauce
    * 1/4 cup oil
    * 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
    * 1 tbsp baking powder

Preheat Oven to 375F. Mix all the wet ingredients together along with the spices
In a seperate bowl, add all the dry ingredients together
Mix both of them together.
Drop spoonfuls of the dough into a lined muffin pan
Bake them for 20-30 min until golden brown

Add a side of fresh fruit or yogurt and enjoy!

Stay tuned to @mother2chicks for next weeks Issue #13
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All text and photos are owned by @mother2chicks