Sister (Lauribob) lives near Twisp. See tree-mail sent separately.

We're getting three new hens tomorrow. Going with six month olds so they are already laying and we don't have to mess with little chicks. Three different breeds: Black Star, Golden Comet and Production Red.

Wow. Pictures please. We will be wanting to see the three new hens. They sound like good ones.

Pictures tomorrow! maybe some of the hatchery too!

Yes, pictures, Pictures! Many pictures please.

Okay, got so busy talking I didn't get many pictures! I also got an Ameracuana (sp?)

So you could pick out the ones that you wanted?

Yep. They were all very gentle, you could tell they were handled a lot. I'll try and get some pictures on Monday.

Yes, pics please!

That is a passel of chickens! And their nesting boxes look like the inside of a post office. Wow, lots of eggs. I have only 11 hens and they share one large (2-seater) nest box. Way too many eggs for the two of us, but then again, no one goes down my driveway without a baggie of eggs.

Ha, I would love to be your neighbor and get fresh eggs. But then I guess I might not need them cause I would probably have my own chickens.

I had trouble taking pics, the iPad was on video and I couldn't get it back to photo. When I did, I was picking out my hens. Gave it to DH and he didn't know what to do. I can't get the video to upload

Okay, I forgot I used DH's phone to snap a couple.

Chickens, chickens!

Deb, he had them in barn stalls, separated by age I think because there were also some Barred Rocks, younger, and the Ameracaunas were in another. Plus there were older (banded) ones in a big area outside the barn.

I think we have a 8 box nester or something like that. I think we have around 11 hens, not counting these new ones.

One mother guinea hatched a keet. Sitting on a full nest and only hatched one! we think it was an old nest because there was another abandoned nest in the asparagus. Now there's still one in the sweet potatoes that Ira built a shelter to cover her and they discovered another one brooding in the peppers!
Now it's a matter of keeping them alive after they hatch because they won't go into the coop at night like the rest of them.

And Rita, if you were my neighbor, we'd be sharing our eggs, but you're right, you'd probably have your own chickens!

Deb, there are about ten family members coming and going so we do eat a lot of eggs, but there's always enough to go around. Every once in awhile DIL takes some into work to share. (Like she has been with peppers we are so sick of!)

I have always wanted chickens. If I lived where it was allowed, I would definitely have them.

I was impressed with how docile these hens were. Ours will run up to me when I'm bringing them treats, but I can't pet them. Of course I never really tried to pursue it, just too darn many gardening chores to spend much time with them.

I would like them really friendly. And I would never get anything done. I would be too busy watching the chickens.

I have heard that guineas really keep down the bugs........true? False? I imagine they raise hell in the gardens, tho?? Picking off the newly set out plants.........pecking at the tomatoes and peppers??? Have never had fowl, but I find guineas rather intrueging.

Supposedly they do. Haven't had a tomato hornworm in years. With all the rain this year we had so many bugs it would have taken an army of guineas to keep up with them. They aren't supposed to bother the plants but I actually caught them eating my raspberries, pecking at the tomatoes and peppers. This is second generation and I never had that problem with first generation. It's very frustrating.

Before they made the huge run for the chickens they were the ones always ruining my garden. I finally told my son I wasn't going to garden anymore unless they confined the chickens. Then there were those few that jumped the fence. Clipped their wings, they still got out. Turned out there was a platform they were jumping on to get over the fence. Finally got that resolved and now the guineas are misbehaving! Arghhhh!

Guineas do like to take their dust baths in freshly tilled and planted areas to. I finally learned to mulch right away to keep them from digging my newly planed rows.

They are good watchdogs though. can be very loud. And they're kinda ugly. Feathers are pretty (we have pearls), but they have ugly faces.