Little Red Hen. A Rhode Island Red.
Born March of 2011.
Our lead hen and one of the most athletic. She's alert, yet gets very relaxed while being held. She's even been sighted riding with Natalie in a "car," gently swinging on the playset, and napping in her arms as Natalie colored. Her leadership is firm but fair. Last summer Buffy began throwing her weight around, which threw off flock harmony. Little Red kept after Buff, chasing her all over hell's half acre--out of the garden, out of the food bowl, out of the egg boxes, out of the sand box. After 4-5 days, Buffy "got it" and the flock settled into feeling calm and secure once again. Little Red loves being on hand for any outdoor/digging projects. She gets first peck at worms and bugs....or becomes impatient and pecks one of her sisters! She loves to keep us company wherever we are, and has no hesitation about going exploring in the garage....jumping up on benches and shelves, peering into buckets, walking around inside boxes, and perching on Natalie's wagon. If bad weather keeps her "cooped up" for more than a day, she grinches and groans loudly--and if Little Red is not happy, no one is happy!
Curious Georgie--Golden Comet.
Born March of 2011.
Little Red's closest sibling and 2nd in command. Very athletic and outgoing. Ever-vigilant....Georgie is usually the first one to explore an open garage or flower bed, the first one to come running when I yell, "Treat Girls!"...the first one to sample new food before the other hens feel safe or brave enough to try it....the first hen to jump in a wheelbarrow, jump in a Herbie full of leaves, or jump in a compost bin. She's the last one to climb into the roost at night, once everyone else is settled. Oh--and she adores sunbaths. Whenever she feels super content, she purrs.
Buffy--Buff Orpington.
Born August of 2011.
Our biggest, most affectionate hen. She loves to talk, be cuddled, and sung to. If I'm walking around the yard examining plants, veggies, and so on, she'll often follow me...issue some hen chattering...and then I'll feel a DOINK! on my shoe. It took me a long time to figure out this was her way of saying, "I want to be held. Now!" And once I pick her up, she's perfectly content. This past year we had some dramatic drops in fall temps and for some reason Buff's health also took a dive. On top of that she just seemed, well...depressed. After a warm bath and blow dry, keeping her indoors and separate from the flock a couple of days, holding her in a wrapped towel, and using a syringe to give her water--she recovered. The lesson for us was this: in sickness or in health, in hot weather or cold, Buff needs consistent affection. She loves dust baths, and in the coop she'll run everyone else out (except Little Red) and then make them all wait a loooong time for a turn.
Peach Chiclet--Speckled Sussex.
Born August of 2011 and is closest to Buffy.
Peachie is our most docile hen and is often the one we reach for when children are visiting, or for anyone who is holding a hen for the first time. She fits perfectly in most people's arms, will settle into being held or carried for long periods of playing and imagination, and will intermittently ask a hen question that sounds like, "Brrrr...?" She is our least athletic hen. While everyone else breaks into a flying run for treats, she breaks into a fast waddle. She really is trying her best, and we are sure to save her portion of the treat for when she finally arrives, bless her heart. However, when digging is in progress, she surprises us all with a lightening-quick reflexes, snatching bugs and worms right out from under her sister's beaks!
Pussy Cat--Austrolorp.
Born July 2012.
Named by Evelyn (who is 3 yrs old), Pussy Cat is the calm, confident, poised alpha of our four "baby" hens. They have just started laying in January, and Pussy Cat crows longest and loudest after laying her egg. Her dark eyes always seem to observe us gently, she has a sweet disposition...her body size and soft feathers are developing much like Buffy's.
Poppy--Barred Plymouth Rock.
Born July 2012.
As a chick, she was perfectly content to sleep upright in our hands and would purr almost every time I held her. These days she gets so excited about egg laying, she crows for herself AND her sister hens. Much to our delight, she still purrs once in awhile when held.
Augusta--Colombian Wyandotte.
Born July 2012.
She is named for The Master's Golf Tournament held every year in Augusta, Georgia. She's one of our most approachable hens, is friendly and easy going, even with dogs and people milling about. Right now her egg crowing sends us into hysterics....she just doesn't seem to have the right rhythm, but she yells loud and proud anyway!
Lily Camilla --Americauna (aka Easter Egger).
Born July 2012.
Our shyest hen--she's a downright rascal to catch, making such a fuss, but quiets and becomes very relaxed in our arms. Lily patiently and cautiously makes her way to the food since she's the last in the pecking order. She loves to perch in the coop run, especially in the sun right next to Pussy Cat, Poppy, or Augusta. The catalogue listed her breed as a "good" layer, but so far she's been every bit as productive as our "excellent" and "great" layers.
