If an Egg Falls in the Forest

There is an ongoing debate going around the farm. If a moose moults (looses it's antlers) has any human ever witnessed it? Wouldn't it be cool to be canoeing up north and see a big moose and "CLUNK" it's antlers fall off? I'll let you guess who dreamed this one up (the creative mind) and which one poo-poos it (Mr.Logic). I mention this because in a similar vein, there has been ponderings as to whether or not we could witness egg-laying. We have certainly heard it. Especially at first when they were still learning to lay, the girls would make such a racket - I was sure that our neighbours were regretting ok-ing the whole urban farming thing. We've joked about getting a "chicken cam" to capture the miracle of food production - there are technical roadblocks like lack of light and the fact that chickens will peck at anything (see earlier blogs re: almost destroying their thermometer). But the other day, it happened. BCF Jr and myself were hanging with the girls on a sunny, autumn day and had just let them free (more later on chicken mommy guilt) to run and peck and spread mulch all over the lawn (more later on chickens for meat). One girl stayed behind, up in the nesting box. She let out a strange choking sound - we wondered if this was the moment. Now, I always thought it was a quick "buck-ah" and out popped the egg. Nature does have a way of taking it's time however. I mean, really, this is like labour, and if you have ever experienced/witnessed that, you know there is some work involved (it's not called labour for nothing!)I crouched at the opposite end of the coop, door propped open just enough to get a view, The chicken walked around and around in circles, first one way and then another. This went on for at least 5 minutes. BCF jr. lost interest and went inside. I was bound and bent that I would witness this event. I continued to crouch, my foot was starting to fall asleep, the chicken walked around and around in restless cirlces. Finally, she stopped her spinning and sat, her tail feathers high in the air (she looked like one of those stuffed pheasants on top of a ladies' hat). The sitting lasted some time as well, as she occasionally nibbled at the woodchips surrounding her. At last, she raised her tail ever higher, lowered it completelydown and "CLUNK" . And that was it. The egg was laid and although I didn't see it "exit" I feel I had witnessed a miracle. I ran to the house announcing that the egg had been laid. BCF Jr. ran out to see. He retrieved the egg "It's still hot!" and it truly was. "I want to eat it right now!" he declared confidently. It was as if he recognized a special moment that was not to be missed. I obliged and made him the freshest egg of his life.