Update: April 29, 2016
I learned I shouldn't go to Theisen's Farm Supply in the spring. They were just adding chicks to the brooders when I arrived. I left with 4. A Black Australorp, a Silver Laced Wyandotte, a Buff Orpington and a Barred Rock. Now I'm working on an extension to the run and reading up on introducing new hens to an existing flock. I bought breeds that are known to be calm and docile. Though I know this is no guarantee things will be peaceful, I'm hoping for the best. Here is the new batch:
Above: Maude (Barred Rock), Tina (Buff Orpington)
Below: Susan (Silver Laced Wyandotte), Rita (Black Australorp)
Original Post:
On April 12, 2015 I finally gave in to the whim of my wife and daughter and allowed them to get a few chicks from a local garden shop. We started with 2. We quickly decided that 2 hens would not give us an adequate supply of eggs, so my wife went out to pick up 2 more. She came home with 3. Within a few days we decided it didn't make sense for a family of 6 to have 5 hens, so one more was added to even out the flock.
Since then my mild interest in what I considered would be a short lived trend has bloomed in to full blown obsession. I found myself checking out every book on the subject at the public library and combing the web for information. My initially utilitarian attitude towards these creature as egg producers quickly changed. I found myself out in the yard talking with them, addressing them by name, bringing them special treats from the house. I've also taken countless pictures of my hens and thought I might share a few of them here.
The flock at 5 weeks. Back row: Louise (Brown Leghorn), Nancy (Light Brahma), Paisley (Blue Andalusian)
Front row: Dottie (Partridge Cochin), Big Deborah (Buff Orpington), Hazel (New Hampshire)
Foreground: Hazel (New Hampshire), Background: Big Deborah (Buff Orpington)
Paisley (Blue Andalusian)
Louise (Brown Leghorn)
Left: Nancy (Light Brahma), Right: Hazel (New Hampshire)
Big Deborah (Buff Orpington)
Dottie (Partridge Cochin)
First Snow, Left: Big Deborah (Buff Orpington), Right: Nancy (Light Brahma)
At Home, From Left to Right, Front Row: Hazel (New Hampshire), Paisley (Blue Andalusian)
Back Row: Louise (Brown Leghorn), Big Deborah (Buff Orpington), Nancy (Light Brahma), Dottie (Partridge Cochin)
I learned I shouldn't go to Theisen's Farm Supply in the spring. They were just adding chicks to the brooders when I arrived. I left with 4. A Black Australorp, a Silver Laced Wyandotte, a Buff Orpington and a Barred Rock. Now I'm working on an extension to the run and reading up on introducing new hens to an existing flock. I bought breeds that are known to be calm and docile. Though I know this is no guarantee things will be peaceful, I'm hoping for the best. Here is the new batch:
Above: Maude (Barred Rock), Tina (Buff Orpington)
Below: Susan (Silver Laced Wyandotte), Rita (Black Australorp)
Original Post:
On April 12, 2015 I finally gave in to the whim of my wife and daughter and allowed them to get a few chicks from a local garden shop. We started with 2. We quickly decided that 2 hens would not give us an adequate supply of eggs, so my wife went out to pick up 2 more. She came home with 3. Within a few days we decided it didn't make sense for a family of 6 to have 5 hens, so one more was added to even out the flock.
Since then my mild interest in what I considered would be a short lived trend has bloomed in to full blown obsession. I found myself checking out every book on the subject at the public library and combing the web for information. My initially utilitarian attitude towards these creature as egg producers quickly changed. I found myself out in the yard talking with them, addressing them by name, bringing them special treats from the house. I've also taken countless pictures of my hens and thought I might share a few of them here.
The flock at 5 weeks. Back row: Louise (Brown Leghorn), Nancy (Light Brahma), Paisley (Blue Andalusian)
Front row: Dottie (Partridge Cochin), Big Deborah (Buff Orpington), Hazel (New Hampshire)
Foreground: Hazel (New Hampshire), Background: Big Deborah (Buff Orpington)
Paisley (Blue Andalusian)
Louise (Brown Leghorn)
Left: Nancy (Light Brahma), Right: Hazel (New Hampshire)
Big Deborah (Buff Orpington)
Dottie (Partridge Cochin)
First Snow, Left: Big Deborah (Buff Orpington), Right: Nancy (Light Brahma)
At Home, From Left to Right, Front Row: Hazel (New Hampshire), Paisley (Blue Andalusian)
Back Row: Louise (Brown Leghorn), Big Deborah (Buff Orpington), Nancy (Light Brahma), Dottie (Partridge Cochin)
