Wow, it's been a year since I posted.

Egg production is very low, there were a few weeks in which there were 0 eggs at all. About 2 weeks ago 3 hens began to produce an egg. Since Jan 1 I've collected 6 eggs.

My hens are all over 2 years old, some of them are nearly 4 years old. I'll be slaughtering half of them in the next 3 months for stew (flemish chicken stew, coq au vin, and chicken tamales). Will be purchasing chicks in March, probably get 8 rhode island reds, 4 barred rock, 4 leghorns. Will be slaughtering some spring chickens when they get up to weight for frying and BBQ. I aim to have 10 good layers by autumn, and probably still have a few stewing hens.

I've got a new kitten, had him since early October. Named RC Gizmo (Rodent Control Gizmo). He earned his name in his first week in the house, and subsequently there hasn't been sign of much rodent activity in the living space. Rodents are a tough problem when you have hens - livestock feeders aren't rodent proof which attracts them. RC is on the job now though!