Our new brood of six

It was like homesickness—we wanted to raise a few chickens again, have them around, paying a fraction of their keep in eggs.

We chose Rhode Island Reds; last time we had Buff Rocks. Rhodies should lay longer. Our Buffs retired from laying after two years. Then they were stew, the best we’d ever tasted.

They’ll be out in the pasture in about six weeks, fenced as well as possible from coyotes, foxes, raccoons, and hawks.