Exciting news from Sarah in Illinois. The new additions that she’s been working for all season have arrived!
Last weekend was very busy for me, so I am going to let pictures so most of the work for this post.
They’re here:
I haven’t had much time to spend with them but I have already determined a couple personalities. I keep saying that I am not going to name them, but I am sure it will eventually happen.
This one is the boss. She is the leader and the noisiest. She is the first one to make noise as I walk up.
This one is shy. She is the last one to approach me, the last one to come out of the coop, the last one to try the new piece of food I give them.
This one is the tallest and always has her neck up high and reminds me of a lookout for organized crime.
I haven’t determined what personality this last one has.
I still have a lot to learn, but as I write this, I have kept them alive about 32 hours! So I consider that a win.
I have two outdoor cats and I have been very concerned how they would react to them. One really couldn’t care less about them. The other:
I guess time will tell.
This is so exciting, Sarah! Have you had any eggs yet? What kinds of chickens are they? I think I see a Plymouth Rock and a Rhode Island Red? Shy and Lookout look different from the breeds I’m familiar with. Good luck with kitty. Hopefully it’s just a case of curiosity.
Home on 129 Acres 
Anyone is welcome to correct me, since I have been a chicken farmer for approximately 5 days, but I think the “boss” is a Barred Rock, the “shy one” is a Wyandotte, the dark brown is a Rhode Island Red and the “look out” is maybe an Orpington? I know that when I bought them from my neighbor she mentioned the Barred Rock and the Wyandotte. (I should have written down what she said!)
As for laying eggs, they still have another month or so until they are old enough for me to expect any eggs, but I check every day just in case.
It has been three days since I took the picture of Toothless the cat shown above, and she still is being very good. She comes with me every morning to let the chickens out of the coop and then she hangs out with them all day. It just makes me laugh so much! The chickens don’t seem to mind her, and she just keeps them company.
I love that Toothless is hanging with the hens. That’s so great that they don’t mind each other.
I think names are on the way, haha…
They are gorgeous! They look so fluffy and healthy, and beautiful against the green grass. Do they like their new house?
Lucky you! I’m happy for you. 🙂
Jan, they seem to like their coop just fine. I am learning as I go of course. I have found some poop in their nesting boxes and I have read that they need more roosts or higher roosts. So I am going to work on that this weekend. Also I might hang some burlap over their nesting boxes to discourage them from just hanging out in there.
Please let us know what works and what doesn’t as you go along. I’m hoping to do this someday too!