We're really enjoying our backyard flock. The girls have been with us since mid-October of last year, and I'm completely smitten with them. Ada is a Silver-Laced Wyandotte, Marie is a bantam Easter Egger, Rosie is a Rhode Island Red, and Ruth is a Cuckoo Marans.

































Ruth behind Rosie


After raising them inside over the winter, they finally moved outside into the backyard. I miss their clucks in the living room, it is so quiet now.



Rosie surprised us by laying her first egg at 19 weeks. Unfortunately it caused a really bad prolapse. I'm worried sick about her and hoping she makes a full recovery. We had her in isolation at the time, because she was bullying the other hens, especially Marie. She's definitely lost her alpha status in the flock, but we'll have to wait to reintegrate her until she's no longer prolapsed.



Ponyo loved harassing the girls when they were in their brooder, but now that they're out and about, she avoids them as best as she can. She's the real chicken of the house.








As though to allay my fears about all the girls having issues with laying, Marie surprised us with her first egg the day after Rosie's. We found it in the nesting box, pretty as you please.








So tiny compared to the store-bought jumbos.

More pictures of our chicken journey are available over on Bird Hearts Bear. Thanks for stopping by!