Chicken update - and recipe

Thanks to all who shared your hints on securing a chicken coop.


Sadly, we found that our security system is still not adequate. Last night our rooster was the victim. I admit that I was rather distraught. He was a beautiful gentle rooster. Irreplaceable in my mind.

So this morning I loaded up the remaining hens and took them to my parents. Maybe we can get rid of the varmints and then start with a fresh laying flock.


Except for one hen. We have one hen that has been setting on four eggs. They should have hatched this week but I didn't even know if the eggs were fertile. Since nothing had happened yet, I thought I'd just throw out the eggs and send the hen with the others. But when I lifted her off the eggs, one was cracked! So she stayed. I could not bear to make her leave the nest when she was this close to hatching chicks!


I checked at noon and there is now three cracked eggs. Any idea how long this hatching process could take? I'd like to move the hen and chicks into the garage tonight. If they are not fully hatched, I'm not sure what to do. I guess we will barricade the coop even better and hope for the best.

Maybe this would be a good night to camp out in the pasture. Or not!

Since I have chicken on the brain, I'll share one of our favorite chicken recipes. We have been out of chicken meat for weeks and this was the first chicken meal we had. It is a favorite with the whole family.

Baked Parmesan Chicken


1/2 cup butter (I only use 1/4 cup)

1 slice whole wheat bread
1 T parsley
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp garlic powder
chicken breasts (I used two.)

In blender blend all ingredients except butter and chicken until small bread crumbs form. (I keep bread crumbs in the freezer from botched batches of bread, so just stir the ingredients together in a bowl.)

Thinly slice chicken breasts. Melt butter. Coat chicken with butter and toss with crumbs. (I place all the chicken in a dish, pour over the butter and stir, then stir in the bread crumbs.)

Lay the chicken in a greased 9x13 dish in a single layer. Bake uncovered at 350 for about 1 hour. If chicken begins to brown too much, cover with foil.