Chickens...

Our chickens are in charge of keeping the bug and spider populations under control.  They also do a good job of sorting through the compost and cleaning up any leftovers.  We are rewarded with beautiful eggs of every shade.  The kids have fun raising the chicks, and they are well socialized, friendly birds, who even come when they are called!

We have a variety of breeds including Buff Orpingtons, Wyandottes(golden-laced, silver-laced and Columbian), Barred Rocks, Welsummers, Rhode Island Reds, Arucanas and Australorps.  They all have names- although I doubt they know that- like "Sparkle Rock Star," "Henny Penny,"  and "Silverlicious."  They are ever curious, following people around hoping for a startled bug or grasshopper.  The big animals don't seem to mind them at all, happy to share their pens.  The chickens are outside scratching during the day, and locked in their coop at night to foil the raccoons, skunks and foxes.

Our Welsummer rooster and "little black one", all grown up!

Little chicks in their house pen until the weather warms up

New Chicks!

We got eight new chicks on 6/10/12, and Gus was excited to have two of his very own!  The girls each got 2 as well, and all are doing well.  We got a couple of Welsummers,  5 red sex-linked, and one black sex-linked.  The black one is Gus' and he calls it "tiny black one."  They are very cute and the kids are enjoying playing with them. 

Flat Stanley gathering eggs