The Finished Run

The hens are growing quickly. Our little blonde Lizzie is still lightweight, but the other girls have packed it on. Two of them have redder combs than before. All a sign that they are maturing. Generally these standard size breeds will begin to lay at about five months. Ours are about 12 weeks old, so we still have bit of a wait for fresh eggs.
Chickens are very social animals; almost everything they do is en masse.

They've discovered my half barrel of herbs. Teddy plucked a praying mantis from the mint, and they've been looking for another one ever since.

Finally the run is finished! Lifting the coop up makes it easier to clean, although the girls are only in it primarily to roost for the evening.In the morning, no more waiting for me to let them out of their coop; they simply walk down the ladder to the run.


I thought they'd be staying in the run for most of the day; somehow they still have the run of the backyard! Unless they're asking to come inside, of course.