The girls are officially a week old. It's been a tough week. We lost the Buff Orpington on Thursday evening after many efforts to save her. On Friday we went and got a "new" fourth one so our little flock is complete.

Our flock

Let me introduce you, starting with the top "blond" one and working clockwise..

• The blondish one is Dolly. She is an Araucana/Americauna and somewhat of a tomboy. She is a bit mischievous and was the first to play games with the others at the feeder.
• The next, most all black from the top is Liz. She is a Black Australorp and is our new one though it looks like she's about the same age as the others within a day or two. She have made the transition to our flock quite easily. A couple of the others picked on her for the first few moments and then she stood up to one, and that was the end of the pecking. Now they are just happily a little clan.
• Next, with all the gray plumage, is Rachel (like rock-el). She is a Blue Laced Red Wyandotte and is the most adventurous. She spends her day practicing flying and fluffing her wings. She's the most curious, looking up to see me when I come around.
• And, finally with the reddish coat and the black strip down her back is Zsa Zsa. She is a Speckled Sussex and is our most vocal. Other than the normal chirping, she will suddenly stop and break into song occasionally. When I had to clean her bottom of a bit of pasty butt, she sounded as if I was doing her great harm.

I can sit and watch the girls for long stretches as the strut their way through the box, kicking up the bedding, stopping to take little drinks and preen themselves. When they stop to eat, they tend to want to eat out of each other's space. There are 8 holes in the feeder but they seem to need to interrupt one another. Or, one will take to running under the necks of the others. Much better entertainment than any sitcom. ;-)