One year ago today I brought home our Faverolle chicks! I bought three extra because many people told me that a few would die. All 12 are still alive a year later. Navi still has a pendulous crop, but seems no worse the wear for it, and as they get older and bigger they are prone to bumble foot. They still aren’t full grown; Faverolles grow slower than commercial breeds and should be at their adult weight at 18 months. We are getting an average of six eggs a day, which we do a good job getting through, and occasionally have some extra to give to neighbors. So really, my chicken math was OK!

The coop size has been great, but the runs are on the small side for 12 hens. They clear out the grass in one day when I open a new run. But keeping them in chicken Fort Knox has become even more important. Someone in our town lost 22 chickens to two-legged predators. After hearing that, I changed the locks from raccoon resistant to human resistant. I also set up both cameras to be able to record for playback. The chickens don’t know and don’t care, as long as I come out and give them mealworms!