Why are all of the 'Girls' at the far end of the run?

Check out this video: The Girls of Penny Lane Farm



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The Girls at 27 Weeks

Our very talkative hens are giving us 4 - 6 light-to-medium brown eggs each day. They all appear to be laying, with the exception of the two "Easter Egg" chickens.



Everyone seems fat, healthy and happy! They are truly funny girls.

We are sharing eggs with our friends.

Blessed Be,
Julie Epona

Carpentry is a lot harder than it looks.

The Chicken Run is now built. I say that with great satisfaction and exhaustion.

My son, Aidan, and I built the frame for the run. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without him. While I painted all of the lumber with Copper Green, he dug the holes and set the posts.

I salvaged the lumber for the project from around the property. The posts were from a previous owner’s chicken coup, which had long-since been torn down. The 2x4s were purchased several years ago for a now long-forgotten project. Aidan and I soon learned how difficult it is to use old wood that has been stored improperly.

Aidan’s friend and bass player, Pooch, helped him string the wire and finish the run. It’s solid, just not exactly plumb. The Girls don’t seem to mind. In fact, they cluck quite happily each morning as I open their window to let them out for the day.


They now have nice nesting boxes and roosts in the coup. I’ve placed a wooden egg in each of the boxes to show them where to lay their eggs. Or, it may just be a good-luck charm. My Uncle John built the nesting boxes, while I played “carpenter’s assistant.” We had a great time working together.

John also installed the roosts and made a functioning gate for the run.



The Girls are 11 weeks old this week. Two of the chicks that were supposed to be Black Australorps appear to be Black Sex-Link hens instead. They have brick-red feathers on their breasts, the Australorps are all black. One of the Ameraucanas has a black-feathered head, the other’s is gold-brown. They are shorter and rounder than the other hens.

The Girls won’t begin laying until August or September, but I’m enjoying watching them grow and getting to know them.

Never Thirst,
Julie Epona

Blessed Beltane

Hip hip Hurray - the First of May
It's absolutely beautiful outside today!

The prayers and invocations I said while planting the garden seem to be helping. Despite the surprise April snow and freezing nights of early spring, everything is thriving.

The sunflowers are almost 3 inches tall and the beans are beginning to appear. The tomatoes are growing robust and the baby lettuces each have several leaf clusters, albeit there still less than 1 inch tall.

The Chicks are growing by leaps & bounds. Happily they are getting less and less skittish when I appear. The Ameraucanas are the most mellow, they seem to like to be held. This weekend I moved the chick's box off the dryer and into the Hen House, they adjusted just fine.

Today I'm watering the garden and ground-covers. It's time to weed the little pathway in the veggie garden - a great way to give "the girls" their first taste of fresh greens!

Blessed Be,
Julie Epona

The Growing Flock

I brought home two new babies today - hatched April 23 - these are Ameraucanas. The description on MyPetChicken.com says that these are, “The famous "Easter Egger" with eggshells in shades of green & blue.”

The little darlings are brown and gold and already have very pretty markings. As hens they will be just too cute, almost comical. I’ve decided to call them Lavern & Shirley.

One of the Australorps is getting a bit bigger than the rest and is quite bossy - perhaps I have a rooster? Well, if it is I’ll call him Sinatra and hope he sings pretty. If not, her name is Anita, the other pretty black hens are Betty, Darleen and Lucy. My favorite chicken site (noted above) describes these, “They are calm and friendly, and excellent layers of light brown eggs. The Australorp's exceptionally soft, shiny black plumage has hints of green and purple in the sunlight.” {oooh, pretty!}


The Golden Sex Links are Marilyn & Jayne. These pretty blonde chicks are derived from Rhode Island Reds, as near as I have been able to learn. The sex link chickens are bred specifically so that males and females are different colors when they hatch. They are also bred as layers and sweet tempered - at least this is what I’ve been told by the local feed store.

So, I now have a flock of 8 that may include a rooster. This should be a great way to learn how to have pets-that-lay-eggs.

If you would like more information on these birds here are some specific links. Of course, MyPetChicken.com is listed on My Favorite Links.

http://www.mypetchicken.com/Ameraucana-B5.aspx
http://www.mypetchicken.com/Australorp-B14.aspx

Blessed Be,
Julie Epona

Introducing the Girls

Eventually, I'm sure, I will learn their names. Right now - they're just squeaking at 2 days old.