cluck, cluck

i can't believe this will be my first week back at work.  maternity leave has flown by way too fast!  don't get me started on how sad the US maternity leave is compared to almost every other country in the world.  instead, i'd like to share some other new additions to our family.  because a baby was not enough.

we've been talking about getting chickens for some time.  J even built an awesome coop many months ago.  about 2 weeks ago we finally got our act together and got the hens.  meet Willy and Nilly (previously known as Liberty and Floppy).  Willy, aka Wilhemina Shire and Nilly, aka Nadalia Shire were a gift from our incredibly generous friends.  Their girls had previously named them but i felt they needed new names for their new home.

Wilhemina Shire

Nadalia Shire

Willy is a Barred Rock and lays light brown eggs.  Nilly is an Ameraucana and lays pale green eggs.  aside from what i just told you, i know know next to nothing about chickens.  so far my biggest concerns have been how Ipo would react and how bad the chicken poop would be since J planned on letting them free range in the backyard.  i'm happy to announce that the dog and the hens get along GREAT! we were pleasantly surprised to find that Ipo does not terrorize the girls.  she periodically follows them from a safe distance to see what they're up to but i think they established early on that they're almost as big as she is and would not be worth harassing.

look ma!  i'm being good!

so far each hen gives us an egg a day.  they also enjoy eating all the snails, bugs and spiders in the yard (bonus!).  and i have yet to step in any chicken poop. i'm sure it's coming but for now it's a non-issue.  if you had asked my 20-something self if i'd ever own chickens i would have laughed in your face.  then again, my early 20's self also thought i didn't want kids.  look how things have changed...