Tomato plants worth jumping for...

There's a new queen in town

A few nights ago there was a coup -- Joanie has taken over as top chicken. This means she gets first rights to all treats and to the coveted sand box. Long live Queen Joan.

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What do you call a coup in the coop? A chicken coop coup?

Joan & Betty take a dustbath as Peggy looks on

Girls go broody?

They're way too young to be broody; they must just be relaxing today.

All 3 ladies

Blurry, but you get a sense of the attitude!

Joan has mellowed out considerably now that Betty has taken over as Alpha Chicken. She's always very curious about the camera.

View from the inside...

King of the hill, chicken-style

Genius camera work:

Chicks enjoy The New York Times

The chicks on their first full day in their new home. That's Joan, the Silver Laced Wyandotte, just to the left of the feeder, who gets a good closeup, Peggy, the Black Australorp, who's enjoying her chick food, and Betty, the Barred Plymouth Rock, who's over by the water bowl and having a go at the Times. As usual, she can't stand Thomas Friedman.

OMG Chicks!!

Today we headed to Meyer Hatchery and picked up 3 baby chicks and chick supplies to last us through the first month. Total bill: $70-some dollars. About $7 of that was the chicks.

They're just about the most adorable things you've ever seen! From the bottom, they're Peggy, Joanie, & Betty.

Peggy is a Black Australorp.
Joan is a Silver Laced Wyandotte.
Betty is a Barred Plymouth Rock.