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Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

Living well in the urban village

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« In My Kitchen, October 2014
Gluten-Free Crumb Cake »

Fat Fairies

October 5, 2014 by Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

Our last flock of chooks reminded us of Morris Dancers and Ninjas.

This lot are the Fat Fairies. They have lovely temperaments – the group is harmonious with very little squabbling. And with the onset of spring, they’ve been eating and laying like crazy.

As with all fairies, they’re hard to capture in photos – there were only seven unblurry shots out of the 132 I took yesterday…

All the surplus rainbow chard in the garden ends up here…

The fairies adore old sourdough…

They’re currently laying at their peak – we’re getting four to five eggs a day (which explains the frenetic cake baking of late)…

Last week, one brave hen laid a 105g egg! We couldn’t figure out who it was – no-one appeared to be walking funny that day…


It’s a long weekend here in Sydney, and the sun is shining!

Hope you’re all having a great weekend too!

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Posted in Garden | 76 Comments

76 Responses

  1. on October 5, 2014 at 6:40 am ardysez

    Wow! That is one big chook egg! I wonder if it will be a double yolk? Have you heard there is a lady in Alice Springs who has been ordered to remove her five roosters from her premises? Who would want to live next to someone in an urban setting with FIVE roosters crowing at all hours of the day and night? That would be something to crow about!! :)


    • on October 9, 2014 at 6:09 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Ardys, as you now know, it really WAS a double yolker, our very first! Here in Sydney, it’s illegal to keep roosters in suburbia – that’s a good thing too, I think. The chooks can get quite noisy as they are!


  2. on October 5, 2014 at 6:44 am sandyt1408

    Your fat fairies look so warm and homely. I would love to have some chookies here at my house but we live in a rural south coast village where wild life abounds, in particular bush rats. Of course they are very pretty, dear things but they have no respect for boundaries and have eaten through the fly screen on my kitchen window to get to the tomato basket when there is no more produce to be had in the garden. Neighbours did set up a chook run but the local wild life went into a feeding and breeding frenzy. A very short experiment. I am content just to admire your busy, brown persons. An other beautiful day in Paradise here on the south coast. A BBQ roast of pork with all the trimmings happening for lunch. Not much creative cooking happening this week though as we are packing for a month in Sicily starting next weekend. I’m hoping to learn more about raising and cooking tomatoes while we are there … as well as soaking up the beautiful scenery. Best wishes to you and yours for a happy long weekend.


    • on October 9, 2014 at 6:10 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Sicily! How wonderful Sandy, have a fabulous time! It would be hard to have chooks where the wildlife is a threat to them or their food supply!


  3. on October 5, 2014 at 6:45 am Chica Andaluza

    Ah they’re gorgeus – I miss having chickies :( We somtimes used to get a whopping great egg like that (once it was an egg within an egg) or one with a soft shell – aren’t hens clever!


    • on October 9, 2014 at 6:11 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Tanya, we have one chook who is laying thin shelled eggs, which is a bit of a worry as that’s what usually does them in – laying an egg which cracks inside them and gives them peridonitis. I’m hoping she’ll get better (we’re not sure who it is), but apparently it’s a common problem for layer hens to have dodgy shell glands.


      • on October 9, 2014 at 6:48 am Chica Andaluza

        Can you give them all a supplement of some sort in their feed? Keeping my fingers crossed for you.


        • on October 9, 2014 at 6:52 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

          They’re getting tons of grit and the other four girls seem to be laying fine. We seem to get one with a dodgy egg shell gland in every flock, sadly.


        • on October 9, 2014 at 7:12 am Chica Andaluza

          What a shame :(


  4. on October 5, 2014 at 7:03 am Francesca

    You can’t beat Isa Browns for production of eggs and good temperament, as well as scrap recycling. Mine aslo love silverbeet and rocket. The silverbeet is so rampant at present, it’s grows in the pathways. My daughter brings a bucket of scraps from her house in exchange for a dozen eggs, so everything goes around. The beauty of chooks.


    • on October 9, 2014 at 6:13 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      These are actually Lohmann Browns and although they’re the same mix as the ISAs, this batch actually seem more robust and better tempered than the ISAs were. I’m really not sure what the difference is, something legal about having to be from certain breeders or stock or something.


  5. on October 5, 2014 at 7:04 am trisha dick

    Hi having just joined two days ago it was great to see the chickens.
    Here in Tasmania (Burnie) we too have a long weekend and the weather
    is wonderful. i am seriously thinking of getting four chickens soon and will have to decide on how to house them!


    • on October 9, 2014 at 6:15 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      We love our chooks – this is our second flock. We bought them from City Chicks and were very happy with the service: https://figjamandlimecordial.com/2013/09/20/city-chicks/


  6. on October 5, 2014 at 7:51 am mickscogs

    I miss chooks so much, having lost them in a fire in February. Thanks for your wonderful photos.


    • on October 9, 2014 at 6:16 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      I’m so sorry to hear that! I hope you get to have some again soon.


  7. on October 5, 2014 at 8:35 am Stefanie

    Wow that is a large egg! It must be great having fresh eggs, I love making poached eggs and always get asked what the secret is in getting the eggs to hold together. I say forget vinegar as I think you always taste it, the most important thing is using the freshest eggs you can get. Lucky you and your family all those yummy cakes :) hope you are having a lovely long weekend x


    • on October 9, 2014 at 6:16 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Stefanie, fresh eggs are amazing for poaching, but older eggs make better pavlovas! Had a great weekend thanks, hope you did too!


      • on October 9, 2014 at 8:59 pm Stefanie

        Thanks Celia, I never knew that about pavlova. I love cooking but I’m not a confident baker, I always buy pavlova but I think I might give it a try :)


        • on October 10, 2014 at 9:01 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

          Stef, here’s the recipe we use – it always turns out really well, with a nice fat marshmallowy centre!

          https://figjamandlimecordial.com/2010/05/12/pavlova/

          https://figjamandlimecordial.com/2012/11/06/birthday-pavlova/


  8. on October 5, 2014 at 9:16 am Goldenpudding

    Lovely! We’re hoping to have chooks again soon, and staying with mum and dad recently and seeing their chooks I was reminded about all the cute things about them like how proud they sound every time they lay an egg!


    • on October 9, 2014 at 6:17 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      They are funny aren’t they? Showing off like that.. :)


  9. on October 5, 2014 at 9:56 am Jane @ Shady Baker

    They look so happy and content Celia x


    • on October 9, 2014 at 6:17 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Jane, we love having them in the garden!


  10. on October 5, 2014 at 9:57 am Glenda

    Lovely chooks , Celia. I would love some. They could eat all the silverbeet. We have to live in one place first though.


    • on October 9, 2014 at 6:18 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Glenda, they would LOVE your place! Maybe the neighbours could feed them while you’re away?


  11. on October 5, 2014 at 10:05 am lizzygoodthings

    Oh my, that is one amazingly large egg! Whatchya making with that one, love?


    • on October 9, 2014 at 6:18 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      I boiled it up Lizzy and used it for egg and mayo on toast!


  12. on October 5, 2014 at 10:08 am theintolerantchef

    Wow! That chicken deserves a medal Celia! I saw a monster size egg on telly that they cracked open and found another fully shelled egg inside- identical twins? :)
    Love your chookies, still suffering chicken envy :( xox


    • on October 9, 2014 at 6:18 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      This one was a double yolker Becca!


  13. on October 5, 2014 at 10:49 am lolarose0

    well, the chooks are something wonderful. thanks for sharing. loving the huge egg….


    • on October 9, 2014 at 6:19 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Thank you! They’re great fun at the moment!


  14. on October 5, 2014 at 1:18 pm heidiannie

    That is one very large egg! I wonder if it had double yolks- I used to get eggs from a farmer and every third egg or so was a double yolk. Beautiful pictures- glad some turned out clear and usable!


    • on October 9, 2014 at 6:19 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Heidi yep, our first double yolker! I was very impressed!


  15. on October 5, 2014 at 4:15 pm Debra Kolkka

    I love your chooks. It’s great to see them looking so healthy and happy and laying well.


    • on October 9, 2014 at 6:19 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Deb, layer chooks never seem to last that long, but these girls are currently at their prime of life!


  16. on October 5, 2014 at 6:32 pm thecompletebook

    Lovely chooks Celia. Hope your long weekend is fabulous.
    :-) Mandy xo


    • on October 9, 2014 at 6:20 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      It was Mandy, thanks! Hope you had a good one too!


  17. on October 5, 2014 at 6:55 pm Sally

    It’s a while since we saw the chooks. That egg layer deserves a medal!


    • on October 9, 2014 at 6:20 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Sally, I can’t even tell which chook it was!


  18. on October 5, 2014 at 7:05 pm sara

    We have 4 fat happy chickens at the moment – and they’re laying like crazy too. Except for one who is hiding under the house hoarding her eggs. My daughter calls her ‘cave chook’ 😀


    • on October 9, 2014 at 6:21 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      The nice thing about these brown hybrid chooks is that they’re very unclucky. I’d hate to get pecked when collecting eggs! :)


  19. on October 5, 2014 at 8:14 pm hotlyspiced

    I felt pain looking at the size of that egg! I love your fairies! How wonderful that they’re a harmonious group and how lovely to be collecting so many eggs. I take just as many photos of my dogs! xx


    • on October 9, 2014 at 6:21 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Charlie, your girls always look so calm and relaxed! I’m not surprised to hear that it’s hard to get them to pose for a photo though! :)


  20. on October 5, 2014 at 9:28 pm My Kitchen Stories

    I saw that egg on Instagram and couldn’t believe one poor little chook had laid it. A lovely new bunch of chicks they are Celia


    • on October 9, 2014 at 6:21 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Tania, they’re great fun!


  21. on October 5, 2014 at 10:21 pm Maureen | Orgasmic Chef

    I hope she doesn’t lay an egg that size every day. Wowza. She’d be walking all wobbly! Beautiful chooks.


    • on October 9, 2014 at 6:22 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Nope, it was a one-off! Although a few days later we had a 95g egg!


  22. on October 5, 2014 at 10:52 pm Elizabeth

    I can’t wait till all my chickens are laying, 105g that’s huge!!!! :-)


    • on October 9, 2014 at 6:22 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      We’ve never had one that size before!


  23. on October 6, 2014 at 12:17 am GourmetGetaways (@GourmetGetaway)

    4-5 eggs a day, your chickens are in a roll! Happy chickens well fed by a kitchen great :)

    ~Do drop by and say hello :)
    Gourmet Getaways


    • on October 9, 2014 at 6:22 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Julie, they really are. They’d slowed up quite a bit over winter, but they’re back laying in force now!


  24. on October 6, 2014 at 2:19 am A Famished Foodie

    Hahaha- “no one appeared to be walking funny”- I’m sure whoever it was still is feeling the pain of that egg despite being able to walk okay.


    • on October 9, 2014 at 6:23 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Honestly, I don’t know how she got it out…


  25. on October 6, 2014 at 4:34 am narf77

    If I was a fairy chook, I would lay massive eggs with all of that gorgeous spinach and sourdough! My chooks have finally settled down to life without excess roosters and know that they can wander around our property with impunity now. The problem is, mine are all prima donna’s and insist on being treated as such. The poor remaining rooster can be heard growling at all hours of the day as they take umbrage with each other and start telling each other off. “That’s MY nest…”; “I saw that bit of bread first!”; “They chopped that insect filled wood for ME!” etc. and they are always protesting, complaining and calling out for the rooster to moderate. Poor Yin spends his days growling and hiding ;). We had 100 eggs in the fridge the other day and I don’t even eat them! Our friends and neighbours get cartons of eggs over the fence. Spring eggs are like end of Summer zucchini’s ;). We have gorgeous sunshine as well and we have been redesigning Sanctuary now that we have finally possum proofed it and are just about to plant out all of our summer veggie seeds. I will be trialling growing peanuts this year as well as some cucamelons and other interesting things. It’s the first time I have managed to get my act together and plant seeds. Bunnings won’t be making a profit out of MY garden this year ;)


    • on October 9, 2014 at 6:25 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Fran, I think you might need to consider becoming an egg eating vegan – maybe you could be a veggan? :)


  26. on October 6, 2014 at 5:18 am Sophie33

    Lucky chickens! They are used to great produce, they are spoiled! What a big egg,..;waw! :)


    • on October 9, 2014 at 6:25 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Sophie, it was huge! Hope you’re well! xx


  27. on October 6, 2014 at 1:44 pm kathryningrid

    Are you sure there’s not been a duck impostor hanging about and laying a ‘cuckoo’ egg on those adorable fairies of yours??


    • on October 9, 2014 at 6:26 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Hehehe…now there’s a thought. This one was actually a double yolker – our very first! :)


  28. on October 6, 2014 at 6:34 pm Choclette

    Fat Fairies? What a fabulous name. Laying eggs that size, they must be very contented hens indeed – or at least one of them is!


    • on October 9, 2014 at 6:27 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Choc, I wonder if it’s contented or greedy – I think one of the girls just managed to get a bigger share of the protein recently! :)


  29. on October 6, 2014 at 8:53 pm Anne Wheaton

    I do like brown hens. Funny how every now and then one of them lays a whopper – I wonder if she’ll take a day or two to recover. How many eggs will that count as when you make a cake I wonder.


    • on October 9, 2014 at 6:27 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      I often go by weight – 50g unshelled egg = I large egg in a recipe. Works ok given the wide range of egg sizes we get! :)


  30. on October 6, 2014 at 10:18 pm tableofcolors

    Ha, ha! Love that giant egg! :) Your fat fairies look like a happy lot!


    • on October 9, 2014 at 6:28 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Laila, I’d like to think they are. They certainly seem very content!


  31. on October 7, 2014 at 3:29 am MamaD1xx4xy

    Wow that is a big egg!! Enjoy all the goodies you can make with such fresh eggs.


    • on October 9, 2014 at 6:29 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      It goes in waves – we bake madly when we have eggs, then ease off when the girls get older and lay less. :)


  32. on October 7, 2014 at 8:15 pm The Food Marshall

    Ha ha, love it. We’re getting 3 a day and I’m giving them away. Madness I know. I need to bake bake bake! I love our dears, they’re party of the family.


    • on October 9, 2014 at 6:29 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Fran, we’re giving lots away too. It’s hard to keep up! :)


  33. on October 7, 2014 at 9:11 pm Jan

    Such a lovely thing to call them – fat fairies! They’re very lovely, don’t you love their fluffy bums and the funny, energetic chicken-scratch dance they do. One of our chooks has laid an eye-waterer too – I did worry that it might do some damage, but they all seem to be ok.


    • on October 9, 2014 at 6:30 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Jan, this batch seem to have particularly fluffy drawers! They’re seriously cute!


  34. on October 8, 2014 at 11:18 am EllaDee

    All those leftover goodies for 4-5 eggs a day and a giant size bonus looks like a great deal to me :)


    • on October 9, 2014 at 6:30 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Yes, I think it’s a more than fair trade! :)


  35. on October 9, 2014 at 8:20 pm thefoodsage

    Beautiful shots. Gorgeous girls. Huge egg!


    • on October 11, 2014 at 7:08 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      It was an enormous double yolker! :)


  36. on October 11, 2014 at 11:26 pm dianeskitchentable

    I love the coloration on these ladies & wish that I could walk outside when I needed a fresh egg but man oh man!!! That is one major egg – it looks like it could make omelet all on its own. Are you sure a goose didn’t sneak into the pen?



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