Ladies in Hiding

The Speckled Sussex hen with the Blue Orpington behind her. Penny, the Orpington is a broody hen, that is a hen that hatches chicks naturally, so she stays.

The two Black Australorps are in the foreground and the Columbian Wyandottes are white with black feathers.

The hens are hiding from the roosters on the top of Ofcharka's house. Two Black Australorps, two Columbian Wyandottes, one Speckled Sussex and one Blue Orpington are busy watching. The trouble is that there are way too many roosters and as soon as the hens are in sight, for sure one of them is going to attack her, so they stay out of sight for the most part during the day. The roosters tend to stay around the coop, but the hens like it here at the house, particularly Ofcharka's house, both inside and out. Ofcharka does not enjoy sharing his house with chickens, especially because they soil the house and sit on him. These hens , except the Blue Orpington, and the roosters are going to be soup on the 29th of this month. Some strains of heritage chickens are both good for eggs and meat, but the ones pictured here have proven not to be so much good for either, so off with their heads. Lakeland Poultry in St. Paul, which is 15 minutes from here, charges about $4.50 to process each bird and because the facility is government inspected, the chicken can be served at the Bed and Breakfast here at the farm. However; farm eggs are not permitted to be used at the B & B, yet can be sold at the farmer's market. That rule is a bit strange to me.

So, the ladies in hiding won't have to hide too much longer, since the entire crew except the 5 bantams and Penny the Orpington are leaving. The chickens that will be on the farm thereafter are Ameraucanas that are winter hardy and lay blue green eggs. They should prove their worth or we will have to try Chanteclers next. Tsk, Tsk.

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