We got four Rhode Island Red biddies from a local farmer two days ago.  They are already laying large brown eggs and seem to be adapting nicely to their new home.  They will eat organically grown feed plus some vegetable scraps and have a nice new chicken run to frolic in.

     Here is a picture of the chicken run, with four blokes celebrating its completion.  You know the saying: "Young man gathers sticks to build a bridge to the moon.  Old man gathers sticks to build a chicken run."

     And here are the chicks:

     And this is their house behind Virginia and her garden: 

     Five years ago we bought six baby chicks.  Three turned out to be roosters and, of the three hens, two survived.  So, we saved one rooster, and pretty soon had five more baby chicks, three being hens.  The rooster was unkind so we turned him into soup.  Doug forgot to lock the door to the chicken house one night and a fox ate most of the chickens.  An eagle ate the remaining one. Eagles have a nest in the Wethersfield Cove preserve down across Hartford Avenue.

     The new chicken run is screened in all 'round, including the top, with wire running down into the ground on all sides.  We trust it is secure and will keep out all creeping and flying critters except the two legged ones that have keys.