Chickens’ combs change, which makes using them as identification is tricky. When they are ready to lay eggs, the combs are bright red and full, when they are not in season, the combs loose color and mass. Above are two pictures of Jade the hen, the first when she was under a year old, the second at six years old. I can still count the tines, but other structures are more difficult to discern. Colored leg bands were the best identification for me, because I could see them at a distance, but they do need diligent maintenance. There is a technique of wing banding, where a skilled chicken farmer clips a small band through the web of the wing. I see now why breeders would prefer that more permanent method. A couple of my similar looking hens removed their plastic leg bands, then I couldn’t tell them apart anymore and rather gave up on the whole id part. I believe the last remaining unidentified Faverolle is Schmoo. Jade I identified by her molting pattern, and Seashell has a unique coloring. Wing Ding is still with us, and as the only Black Star hen, she is easy to identify, and very hard to ignore when she comes for her treats.

We made a melon ball fruit salad, which leaves a good amount of melon still stuck to the rinds. We took the emptied melon halves out to the chickens.

The hens were immediately interested, and when I went back the next day, the rinds were completely cleaned out.