Where did that come from?

Yep, we did it. We got chickens.

After three days, eight hens, and thirteen eggs, we have learned that:

Isa Browns like to play outside, only dashing in to lay an egg in a nesting box now and again. Then they go back outside and scratch around some more. They've tilled up almost all of our garden plot already.

Barred Rocks venture out to take a dust bath occasionally, but they much prefer hanging around in the hen house gabbing. When someone climbs into a nesting box they all gather round and peer inside. "What's she doing? Scoot over, I can't see. Oh look--it's an egg! Isn't she clever!" They themselves drop eggs wherever they happen to be--outside in the dirt, inside standing in the feed pan, whatever.

In short, though Barred Rocks are undeniably pretty birds, Isa Browns are smarter. Just in case you wondered.