Meet the Flockers!! Part 2

 Most of the chickens in this batch are no longer with us.  Just want to get that out of the way before I continue. 

In our first batch of eight, we had two Marans and 6 Easter Eggers. Three of the EEs were reddish brown, so I named them Crystal, Ronnette, and Chiffon, after the three backup singers in Little Shop of Horrors....who in turn were named after the girl groups from the doo-wop era.  Crystal and Chiffon are above, eying up a blackberry.

Not sure which this one is

 Crystal and Chiffon again, and I still don't know which is which.

Crystal is no longer with us.  She disappeared one day.  We went looking for her, not knowing she'd found a nice, dark place to lay an egg and couldn't get out.  It is heartbreaking, but we walked by her for days and she never made a peep.  We eventually found her when it was too late.  It was a lesson I had to learn, though.  One, when you have livestock eventually you are going to get deadstock.  Two, these animals are domesticated, not wild, and they do depend on you (like a dog would) for safety and keeping.  I still feel bad about Crystal. 

 

 Larry and Ronnie.  Ronnie used to be known as (you guessed it) Ronnette, but turned into Ronnie when it became obvious that he was not a she.  Ronnie was beautiful.

Eagle was also gorgeous.  I mean, LOOK at that rooster!  Wowzers, baby. 

The problem with having chickens is that the hen-to-rooster ratio has to be like 10:1.  20:1 is better.  Too Many Roosters has become a mantra of mine....especially at work, but that is for another post.  (It has actually become a joke with the women in the hallway I work in, we say "Too many roosters" and when someone asks how our day is going).  We wound up de-roostering by taking them to....our local wild animal rescue.  Because, you know, chickens are wild animals who deserve a second chance.  Or the tiger likes to eat live food.  Either one works.