In early August, when we only had one remaining chick from our original order (due in part to our ignorance and in part to the neighbor's cat), we bought a pullet at the County Fair from a boy who had raised her. He said she was about 5 months old and should start laying within the next month. A prize-winning bantam Ameraucana goes for $10, if you're curious . . .
Here are the new chicken (Dove) and our teenage chick (Smog) together:
The family has loved having chickens. Never would I have guessed they would be so friendly and tolerant of children.
This picture was taken in September. Smog is getting to be bigger than Dove:
In mid-September, Dove produced her first egg!
Both chickens enjoy eating table scraps and pumpkin guts:
When we decided they were both big and tame enough to wander the yard unsupervised, we began opening their yard gate each morning and letting them roam. Eventually, Smog discovered that we were inside. She now comes up every day and pecks at the door, begging to be let in.
One day, Tobie (our cat) was at the door, asking to be let in, but when Smog ran up, the cat got scared and ran back to the railing. Scaredy Cat! (Chicken!)
In January, Smog turned 6 months old and started laying, right on schedule! Her eggs are the big, brown ones. Dove's are the small, bluish ones.
Here they are compared to Jumbo Grade A eggs from the grocery store:
Having the chickens has been very rewarding and much more fun than I ever expected.
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