Anabel - the Salmon Faverolles, Meepo - one of the Danish Brown Leghorns, and Meepo's sister - name pending, arrived this afternoon!

I'm sure that the kids are glad to hand them back over, after around 8 weeks. I do appreciate them getting them to this stage. I was worried about the cold weather when I first got them in mid-April, when they didn't yet have feathers. They have grown a lot since then.

Anabel's breed is supposed to be very mellow and sweet. You have to make sure that other hens don't walk all over them. And, sure enough, she's very sweet, and a bit concerned about new things, unlike the leghorns. Anabel's going to make a very nice pet, and Meepo and sister will keep us on our toes, I think!

Faverolle's are considered a threatened species, which I didn't know when I got her. I'd always wanted to try a couple in the flock, and they just happened to have one at the local mercantile and feed store when I was looking. Since they only had 3 chicks, it was an easy choice.

I found a farm in Idaho who sells them, and shows them to save the best hens to bolster the breed. It says, "Salmon Faverolles ​are listed as a "Threatened" heritage breed on The Livestock Conservancy Conservation Priority List. " I had no idea.

I saw birds that look a lot like Anabel, coloring-wise. And, like her, they all have muttonchops, and feathered feet. They are also one of the few chickens with 5 toes. It will be interesting to see how she lays.

Danish Brown Leghorns are amazing layers. They will lay into the winter some. And, because they will be my only white egg layers, will give everyone eggs to dye at Easter, without having to buy store eggs!

The 'little girls' are still in their cage, in the coop run. I want the big chickens to get used to them before letting them into the flock. We'll see how that goes tomorrow morning. My plan is to let them into the run before letting the big hens out. But, to clip the wings of the browns, since they are such flyers, unlike Faverolles.