This Cuckoo Maran is friendly yet calm, and gets along well with others. I named her after a book that I loved as a child – Veronica by Roger Duvoisin. It’s about a hippo that looks like all of the other hippos, all of whom live boring lives in the lake. Veronica goes to the city, has adventures, and when she comes back she is not like the other hippos. She is a storyteller. This Veronica hatched March 29, 2013.

Owly’s funny personality was immediately obvious. Even as a week-old chick, she looked curious and she looked up. She also had the markings of a round-eyed owl, hence her name. Owly is not the prettiest Ameracauna, but she does have the heart of a clown, and her expressions are endearing. Hatched March 29, 2013.

Beatrix is an Ameracauna with a classic face muff and gorgeous feathering, and what looks like a necklace around her neck. She is, like most birds of this breed, aloof but not flighty. She is named after Beatrix Potter. Hatched March 29, 2013.

Misty is a Blue Andalusian. She doesn’t look anything like her namesake, Misty of Chincoteague; perhaps I should have named her Stormy, for another horse in that book series. I read every one of Marguerite Henry’s horse books, and this hen is my way of acknowledging those classics. Although this Misty has slate grey feathers, she will lay white eggs. Hatched March 29, 2013.

These two are Speckled Sussex. These hens, though of the same breeding, are unique unto themselves. In fact, all of the Speckled Sussex that I’ve had have all been full of character—friendly, active, curious and demanding. They might be my favorite breed. Florence is named after Florence Bascom, the first woman hired by the United States Geological Survey (in 1896). She is the smallest, quickest and smartest of the two. Agatha Agate is a very, very sweet hen of very little brain. She likes to sit on laps. She likes children. She would never peck anyone. Agatha is the perfect hen for school visits and is adored by many.