Papette, posing.	Papette sitting on her eggs.

July 29, 2006: Papette is sitting on her eggs - all SEVEN of them!  I had no idea she was still laying, as it's so late in the summer, but I suppose I should have been clued in when I found a marble-sized egg by her feed dish.  She is clucking contentedly, and Louis is more defensive than ever.

July 30, 2006:  Papette is still trying for  more chicks!  I'm sure that she's very confused about the fuss I'm making over her, or why I stuck the camera in to take pictures of her (Louis seemed puzzled by this, too!) but she definitely knows what she's doing.  Every now and then, I see her ponderously lift herself up and turn all the eggs around, so the yolks inside don't stick to the shell.  There is always one egg outside of her feathers, every few minutes or so, she rotates this one back in, so all will have a chance to develop.  I'm planning to candle them later.

July 31, 2006:  I shoved some straw in the box, and it seems Papette has accepted the "gift," as she spread it all over the box - under her precious eggs, of course.  Candling date is set for the sixth of August, if nothing else interferes. (The Ventura County Fair, which is a major date for me as well as my lamb, pygmy goats, and chickens, starts on the second of August.  If you are in the area, I greatly encourage you to come and see my chickens up close and personal!)