Let the Eggs Begin!

Today was a red letter day for us. Or should I say a red chicken day?

After we lost our beloved big black hen to cancer, I went out and bought 4 chickens to help me get over the grief of her loss. She was a black sex-link hen (try typing that into a search engine and see just how many porn sites it pulls up!) that produced large eggs and had a sweet and curious disposition. Her name was the Black Dahlia and she was my favorite. She would walk with me through the pen and then just stand and look at me, on the verge of speech. I always felt as though I was being observed by her instead of her being observed by me! She would let me pick her up and put her on my lap, let me pet her and stroke her cheeks. I would also give her back rubs...and watch her fall asleep on her feet!

In buying the replacement chickens I wanted a similar breed and ended up with 3 red sex-links and a Rhode Island Red. The sex links have been cross bred with Rhode Island Reds and Leghorns. I can't help but think of Foghorn Leghorn when I say that. I bought them as "pullets" aka young hens. They were 4 months old when I brought them home and was told they would begin laying eggs in another 4-6 weeks.

We named them Rita Hayworth (the Rhode Island Red), Nicole Kidman (very regal with white neck feathers), Reba McIntyre (the little perky red one) and my new favorite, Miss Kitty, after Gunsmoke. She has pale red-orange feathers and just reminds me of ...Miss Kitty!

Each day after work I go out into the backyard and feed the dogs, then feed and water the chickens, giving them scratch and snacks and then check for eggs.Today I found the very first egg layed by the red girls! How exciting!

The picture shows today's eggs. The little white one is from a bantam hen, one of the Josephines, the greenish blue one is from one of the Americaunas but we're not sure which one...and then our first brown egg! I'm not sure who gave us this one. This will be the first of many eggs they will give us over the next 3 years. Thanks Girls!