Shhh! We're a Little Nervous

And I'm not talking about the hens!Here they are in safe keeping in the dog crate yesterday afternoon while George gets all the locks on the coop doors, finishes building their ramp, etc. My friend Vicki was coming to town anyway so brought us four of her Rhode Island Reds. She thinks they're all hens. I keep calling them "the girls--well I hope you're all girls". They are 8-9 weeks old. They should start laying eggs in 9 weeks or so. I think we'll name them as we get to know them better, but so far we like Lucy and Lily for two of them.
Enjoying food and water in their "luxury accommodations" coop. Rhode Island Reds are a medium-sized bird that are known to be very reliable egg layers and also make good meat when they're past egg-laying age (about two years down the road)--which makes them a "dual purpose bird". They were first bred in Rhode Island and are considered an Heirloom breed.

Larger scale farmers today usually choose a single purpose breed, either egg-layers or meat birds, and have very streamlined production techniques. The dual purpose breed is more old-fashioned from the days when nothing on the farm was wasted. When I first read about the breed types, I was thrilled Vicki had chosen Rhode Island Reds since it means we're doing our part to preserve a genetic strain that has been endangered.

I also think they look pretty! Their feathers will darken as they mature. Right now they are a strawberry blond color and fit right in with our Scandinavian/Irish family.

Taking their first peek outside this morning. They're a little timid and unsure of themselves, but I think they look right at home. I was happy they were still alive this morning.
The playhouse coop and the cat in crouch mode this morning, checking out these large new birds. Amazingly, she walked away quickly, terribly uninterested.

So now is our little homestead complete? Oh, I think far from it. There will be more gardens, more fruit trees, maybe more animals in the future. We still have some lawn left, after all! I have long wanted a little farmstead of my own, but we also like to live in the city near people. This whole "Urban Homestead" idea is just so perfect for me. I feel like I have finally found my calling. Strangely since I don't love to cook, it all involves food (and health)! Luckily, George loves to cook the food I grow/raise/buy and he'll put up with whatever I want to do--well, to a point--so I guess we compliment each other well.