We have six hens that we raised from chicks this spring.  They have an enclosure and coop near the back of the yard, but every day we let them out in the late afternoon to roam free for bugs, seeds and other treats.  By sundown, they'll return to the coop on their own and put themselves to bed.

When it's time to let them out, they line up eagerly, trot out through the open door, then run full-tilt and flap their wings in sheer joy, heading for the shelter of the Portuguese laurel.

Con watches as 'the girls' peck at something tasty in the lawn.

Chickens are amusing to watch, and great entertainment.  Here Grace and Nugget, our beautiful Buff Orpingtons,  meander through the shade bed.

And the fruits of our efforts... or theirs: green and brown eggs.  Note the very large speckled egg on the right, one of the largest we've ever seen.  Cade and Con have become very fond of having the girls' eggs for breakfast, with their fresh, tender flavor and deep orange yolks.

Our tasty eggs have convinced Cade to stop frying his eggs to death.  Now he cooks them over really low heat to coax as much flavor as possible out of them.  Here he's frying a single, huge egg the girls produced which had two yolks.