When you have only three or five or seven hens, each one stands out as a distinct personality. That’s not as true in a larger flock. My two Rhode Island Reds, Garnet and Ruby, look identical. They even act the same, although when free-ranging I can sometimes identify Garnet because she and Jasper seem to enjoy each others’ company and roam together. But not always. I put a blue band on Garnet’s leg so that I could tell the RIRs apart.

In a larger flock like the group of Gems, some hens make their presence known. When I open the door in the morning, Etheldred leaps up with hungry enthusiasm. This is despite the fact that I never feed them as I step in – specifically to dissuade the bad habit of crowding and pecking. Some hens, like Jasper, are friendly and curious and are usually underfoot. Some hens, like Florence, are aloof.

Then there’s the unassuming hen, the one that you don’t notice. The one that goes about her business, never bossy, but not timid either. This hen flies under the radar. (Pun intended. You’re welcome.) I take photos of my hens almost daily, and yet when I looked through iPhoto to find a photo of Onyx I had to go back to December 2012 to find one.

She’s a beautiful Barnevelder. And yet she is easily ignored.

But, not by Siouxsie. Siouxsie, despite all of her cluelessness, recognizes that Onyx is unperturbable (not a real word, but so applicable here.) Siouxsie has decided that Onyx will be her friend.

The Gems are a tolerant and peaceful group. Having Siouxsie in their midst has tried all of their patience, but none so much as Onyx. Once in awhile she rolls her eyes at the annoying pouf-head that is following her around.

But, otherwise, she puts up with her new shadow. I’ve undervalued this unassuming hen. What a good girl she is.

The next Chicken Keeping Workshop here at Little Pond Farm is on Saturday, June 8. From 10 am until noon, participants will be immersed in a course that covers how to have a healthy and content flock in one’s backyard. Along with time on the screen porch talking about chickens (and eating homemade cookies), there will also be a tour of my coops and an opportunity to handle the chickens. I’ll walk guests through how I care for the hens and manage the daily chores and manure. Space is limited and these workshops always sell out, so if interested, sign up now. I hope to see you here!

My best guess, having seen the evidence, is that Lily killed the shrew early last week and then let it ripen in the meadow until it emitted exactly the right aroma for rolling in. Which both dogs did. A very small dead animal, properly aged in the sun, can be quite the potent perfume.

Both dogs were given baths yesterday.

Fun has its consequences.

To meet breed standard, Andalusians must be dark grey. However, even if both parents are the color of slate, only half of their offspring will have those coveted feathers. The rest will be mottled, dove grey, or even white. Of my three Andalusian chicks, one is very pretty and has dark feathers, but she does have white splotches on her head. The other two are a lovely pale grey. One is a cockerel. I call him Mr. Grumpy.

The other female matches him in color.

Andalusian pullet

They like each other.

I would like to sell them as a pair. So far, Mr. Grumpy has been a mild-mannered gentleman. But, no guarantees. He’s sure to be loud, after all, he’ll mature into a large and hormone-driven rooster. Still, I think that for someone who wants a rooster, he’ll make a good addition to your flock.

I’ll sell the two together for $20. Please email me if interested.

(Steve took the photos.)

I was away at a conference this weekend. I was gone for just an overnight, but the days were so jam-packed, and my head was so filled with conversations and things to think about, that it felt as if I’d been away for weeks. When I came home, I looked out at the Old Girls’ pen, saw this and thought I must have been away for as long as it felt.

There was Betsy, saying good-night to Pip. But, something about her stance didn’t look right. A closer look revealed that it was one of the Delaware chicks talking with her goat-friend. The chick was as large as Betsy!

Only two days away and I no longer had babies in the pen, instead there were birds that looked fully feathered and that were only slightly smaller versions of their mature selves! This morning when I went out to care for the animals the temperature hadn’t even reached 40 degrees F. Cold. Some of the chicks were sleeping under the heat lamp, but many were not. I have the brooder door open to the Big Girls’ side, and some chicks were already in the coop. Their sturdy, glossy outer feathers were keeping them warm. They no longer need the protection of the brooder except during the coldest hours of the night. I opened the pop door and they hurried outside. Two chicks have already learned how to sit together on the roost! It’s a good thing that I have plenty of room, as there is some chest bumping, and ruffled feathers and arched neck challenges as the chicks sort out who they are as they grow up. But the tiffs don’t turn into anything serious because there are enough resources to share and because they have the space to communicate and then move away from each other. (Is there a lesson here for us humans? Likely so.)

The chicks that I’m not keeping for myself and for the nursing home will be ready to go to new owners in two weeks. I will be selling twelve pullets. $20 each. I will sell all to one person, or will divide into two groups. They will not be sold singly. Preference is given to those who have taken my chicken keeping workshop (or coming to the one in June) but I’ll consider other homes. Email me if interested.