The winter before last, I lost most of my free range flock to predators, leaving me only two laying hens and a rooster. This past winter, a car got my rooster (had to be intentional), and a hen disappeared (likely a predator got her), leaving me with only one hen. Several months back, I bought five hen chicks locally. The remaining adult hen has been acting as their matron since. They've finally reached egg laying age. Here's the first tiny egg (early eggs are always tiny). I expect the others to follow suit soon. It will be nice, once again, not to have to buy crappy grocery store eggs. Even the so call "free range, organic" etc., eggs you get there are total crap compared to eggs from true free range, backyard hens.

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