I've introduced Tammy before.  She is our seven-year-old Silver Laced Wyandotte hen.  I raised her and four other chicks, and she is the last survivor.  Lucy the Andalusian was the first to leave our suburban mini-farm; she turned out to be a he, and not a very friendly one at that.  When "Lucifer", as we came to know him, started crowing and attacking me, it was back to the feed store.  The owner was thrilled to have him, saying that a customer has been waiting for an Andalusian rooster for a long time.  The feed store only orders hen chicks of most breeds since city ordinances allow the keeping of hens but not roosters.  It was sheer fortune for this other customer that a rooster slipped into the mix, and our sheer fortune that someone wanted our mean guy.

Wynonna was another Wyandotte who, at the age of around three years, decided she didn't like Buffy, our Buff Orpington.  Wynonna launched a campaign of terror on the poor, gentle Buffy that left the unfortunate target will a bloody head and bald patches.  It turned out that Orpingtons tend to get bullied. We gave Wynonna to a fellow who said his flock would be able to keep her in check.

Buffy died at about 4 years of age.  The fellow at the feed store put her out of her misery, as she suffered a prolapsed vent, which is when the passage the egg travels slips outside of the hen's body. 

Olivia the Australorp passed away about a year after Buffy, leaving Tammy the last chicken standing.  At seven years of age Tammy is still going strong.   She lays an average of 3-4 eggs a week from spring to fall, and helps keep our yard free of bugs.  Here's Tammy sitting on her nest, getting ready to lay an egg.


About three weeks ago, we decided Tammy needed company and the yard needed more insect control.  So, we purchased two Jersey Giant and two Barred Rock chicks.  Jersey Giants are the largest breed of chicken, with hens weighing as much as 10 lbs (which is as much as some of our dogs weigh!)  Barred Rocks are known to be good layers, so we are expecting a nice supply of eggs in several months.

Here are the "babies" as they catch some sun.  They are incredibly friendly girls, and I expect they will be a lot of fun when they are old enough to fend for themselves in the yard.