Chickens

Before having goats and a garden,  we started out with a small flock of White Plymouth Rocks for eggs in 2008.   The original flock has since passed on (the last hen as of this month) but we have two main flocks now.  I call them the Banty Coop and the Big Coop Flocks.  The banty coop consists of older birds, game birds, bantam chickens,  guinea fowl, and a rooster, Sir Liverwort, to protect them.

Willow, a Black-tailed White Japanese Bantam, currently has six nearly grown chicks so she is locked up in a separate hutch during the night but runs around like the rest of the Banty flock during the day.  This photo shows one of her chicks, Mirror.  Yes, she looks almost exactly like her mom.

Ebony and Merrigold are 'my' two game birds.  I have come to love the game birds because of their independent personality.  Yet, when I take the time to give them little treats or such, they become quite friendly.   As a side note, the layers are quite docile, able to live at peace with each other other than the typical pecking order they establish amongst each other.  Many game birds do not get along with each other unless they grow up together.  I'm very blessed that Merrigold and Ebony tolerate each other plus I think their older age has helped calm them down too.  

Honeysuckle is an adorable, independent, sassy little hen.  She's five years old.

The Big Coop consists of all the consistent layers, a few older birds that are still laying, and their rooster.  My mom and I limit our chick buying to once every two years. Last year, we added about twenty some new birds to our flock.  They are all laying now.

A few young White Rock chicks which my mom and I named Daffodil, Daisy, and Tulip are from last year's addition.

In addition, we added two Barred Rocks, Iris and Izzie.  I have always enjoyed the White Rocks but was a little hesitant about the barred rocks because of negative reports about their personality.  To my relief, they have been just as sweet, friendly, and laid back as the White rocks.  The rocks also like talking to you as well.

There are six White Leghorns, four younger and two older birds.  Dove and Ms. Cluck are the older girls.  Pensacola 'Penny', Croatia, Italy, and Asia are the new girls.   Leghorns are excellent layers of large white eggs; however, they are high- strung birds.

Sunny and Shadow are the Light Brahmas. They were such curious girls when they were growing pullets, constantly pecking at my shoes.   A photo of their younger selves in the act. 

Nani and Lokelani are the Buff Orpingtons. Currently, they are both broody but I'm not giving them eggs to hatch because I haven't the room to give them for taking care of chicks.  This is Lani as a pullet. 

Lavender and Spot are Easter Eggers (really Ameraucana -mutt chickens that folks purchase because the hens lay green, blue, or brown eggs depending on the hen).  Spot lays pretty green eggs and Lavender is the rooster in charge.   From my experience, the EE's are seasonal layers or lay-whenever-I-feel-like-it birds.  Yup, the egg colors are nice but if you're looking for consistency, they're not your bird. Spot is a Leghorn and EE cross. She laid consistently like a Leghorn for a few years but has since taken on her EE side in regards to laying.

I took care of my neighbor's chicks when he was out of town last year and he let me have my choice of six birds.  Unfortunately, all but one was a rooster.  I named my White Jersey Giant Eema.

Suri is my sweet little mottled Japanese Bantam hen.  I kept her with the Big Coop birds for two reasons.  One, because she grew up with last year's new flock and, two, because for the past year and a half, my guineas have been having serious problems with attacking the chicks and layers, something I hadn't ever had to deal with before.  I didn't want them bullying Suri and I didn't think she'd be mature enough to stand up to them.  She does just fine with the big girls so I'm okay with leaving her with them for now.  To the left of Suri is our handicapped rooster, Rhett.  He has his own run in the Big Coop.  As you can see, Suri goes in and out as she pleases. 

And here are a few shots taken over the past year.