It’s hard to believe, but I missed the 1 year anniversary of this blog, and almost missed the anniversary of Agnes becoming the first resident of the Urban Hennery. It’s been a year filled with new connections, unexpected discoveries and a new appreciation for the landscape and farmers that feed us. The hens are so much a part of our daily life that it’s hard to remember when they weren’t here. And hard to remember that they’re still unusual to a lot of people.

Here’s a look at what’s happening right now, and the events of this wonderful year.

Penny is molting and has been for a month or so. She’s the first and only one of them to go through the process so far. Agnes had just finished molting when she joined us last year. And Pru and Lucy show no signs of starting yet. Penny’s kind of bedragled looking, but Lucy continues to stick by her side through all their adventures.

Of the 4 hens of laying age (Agnes, Penny, Pru and Lucy) only Agnes and Lucy are laying right now. That means we’re getting about a dozen eggs a week - 6 large reddish brown and 6 dainty and palest brown. That’s enough eggs to keep us happy for the moment. Altho the eggless days of winter are getting closer every day.

The two remaining chicks are almost three months old. Maisie is going to be even bigger than Lucy when she’s full grown - she already stands almost as tall as her. Danny (Dee Dee) is the smallest by far. I’m still almost certain that she’s a rooster. But then every once in a while I’m not sure. Hopefully we’ll know by Thanksgiving or Christmas. The two chicks mainly hang together, Agnes humors them every once in a while for a minute or two but then chases them off again.

Tonight marks the first night that all 6 were on one roost bar together. I tried this morning to get a photo of them all together, but Pru continues to insist on spending her mornings in the nest box in her 1/2 broody state. No eggs from Pru since early July, and really no regular egg production since early May. I’m hopeful that the onset of colder weather will break her of her half-hearted broodiness and perhaps we’ll get eggs again starting in the spring.

Well - that’s the update about what’s happening now. Looking forward to winter, we’ll likely stop getting eggs around Halloween or sooner if last year is any indication. We’ll start getting them in January or so due to the heat lamp I put in for the banties. The rain has started, but I’m going to delay putting up the plastic on the coop as long as possible as I like to watch them putter around. I likely won’t put it up until there’s a chance of snow or extremely heavy rain.

All in all, the hens and us are happy with our arrangement. We give them shelter, food and a safe yard to range in and in exchange they give us enough eggs for us and a few to give away. Hopefully next year we’ll manage to keep the big girls laying consistently all summer. If Maisie, Lucy and Penny all lay steadily, Pru and Agnes can do their in and out broodiness and we’ll still have plenty of eggy goodness. And of course, we’re waiting to see what role Danny will play - rooster? or tiny little hen?

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A look back at the highlights from our first year of hens:

• And the decision is made: my first post about our decision to get hens
• Meet Agnes: the coop is finished and our tiny white hen takes up residence
• Our first egg: smaller than a small egg, our first yolky goodness
• Meet the little girls: Mary, Prudence and Margaret join Agnes
• Meet Jake: Jake puppy joins the menagerie
• And then there were two: Our two roosters leave to find a new home
• Phyllis joins the flock: The smallest hen I’ve ever met comes to stay
• Penny and Lucy: the biggest girls arrive
• And they’re here: Phyllis hatches two cute chicks
• Today in pictures: The flock takes their first free ranging adventure
• There’s a chick: Agnes hatches Dee Dee
• Name these chicks: Lola and Maisie hatch as well
• Egg Portrait
• We’re famous in Canada: the girls make the big time north of the border
• Birds of a feather: Gratuitous chicken pictures
• Seattle Tilth Harvest Fest: The girls go out on the town