I'd love for you to meet the newest editions to our backyard flock--Bernadette and Beer Can! Bernadette (the yellow one) is a Buff Orpington and Beer Can (the red one) is a Rhode Island Red. We decided in early winter that we would add two more chicks to the flock this spring in order to stagger the ages of our birds and for more eggs--I mean, who doesn't want more eggs?! Out of the five hens that we currently have in our backyard, Henrietta (Retta for short) is our sweetest lady. She comes when called, she's always friendly and docile, and she's the only one out of the five who laid consistently all winter. So, because of our success with her we decided to add another Buff Orpington just like her to the flock. The Rhode Island Red is a new breed for us. Dan loved their color and wanted the variety. We've read and heard mixed things about their breed--both that they are great backyard hens and that they are not great backyard hens--but we decided it was worth a try!

With two new chicks on their way, Dan and I had decided that we should each name one of them. The Buff was my choice in breed and so I gave her the lovely name of Bernadette (Bernie for short). Dan's Rhode Island Red was blessed with the name Beer Can...as in the style of grilled Beer Can Chicken...classy! ;)

Dan picked up these new ladies on Tuesday and they are happily settling in to their little rubbermaid near a radiator in the house. It will be a few weeks before we start to introduce them to the others, but in the meantime we will enjoy their little chirps filling our home.

Welcome, ladies!!!