It still doesn't feel like spring is ready to pop out all over, but the chickens in the brooder sure are. There are only three of them, but they are already six weeks old and growing fast. The first picture is Sonia the Colombian Wayandotte. She's just getting her adult feathers so she looks pretty scruffy. They all do really. They're at the awkward age.

Behind her is Annie Oakley, the Americauna. She's a beautiful caramel color and I wish I had a better picture of her, but she's shy, unlike the others. I will try to coax her with some yummy cheese so I can put up a better portrait.

This is Monique, the Cuckoo Maran. She's also a very distinctive color and will lay chocolate-brown eggs. Not chocolate eggs, unfortunately. That would be a treat! We got these chicks because we think they will make a very beautiful threesome when they are grown, with very distinctive colors and patterns, they will make a lovely group as they peck around the garden and will be very easy for people to tell apart as individuals. That will make it fun for kids. They will also lay a bouquet of beautiful eggs - light brown, dark brown and blue/green.

These girls have been sold, but we will keep them at the store a few weeks longer so our visitors can watch them grow up.

There originally was a fourth chick, but she turned out to be a mystery. That's her standing behind Monique. She was one of those extra chicks from the hatchery and no one could figure out what breed she was. She was big and had feathered legs. She was also really active and aggressive so she had to go back to her birth flock on Virginia Sanborn's farm. She already has her own little flock of dedicated followers there. Here name is Lizzie, but we think she might turn out to be Rex. She will be available as a pullet when she's older, if she's still a Lizzie.

Such is the fun and mystery of chickens. You just never know.