CHICKENS!!!!

i LOVE our chickens! They are really my daughter's chickens, but she lets me gather their eggs whenever I want.....it's like finding treasure everytime! She raised 5 chickens from chicks (they were a day old when she got them). They started out by living in our laundry room for about 3 months to make sure they were kept warm. A rather dusty and noisy situation. She has four different types: Americauna (2), Plymouth Rock (1), Black Cochin (1) and Dark Brahma (1). They all have lovely names: Grace Kelly. Mrs. Darcy. Meg White. Dolorian. and Sandra Templeton. They are so soft and fluffy! They all have very sweet personalities, and will follow my daughter around. My daughter and my hubby designed a chicken coop and then built it. It is beautiful! The chickens are about 10 months old now. It was so exciting when they started laying eggs. I had this secret wish that I would be able to witness one of the chickens in the process of laying an egg. Not too long ago, as I was checking on the chickens I could tell one was kinda busy! It was extremely 'cool'. The chicken was standing, and an egg could be seen descending...kind of a quiet "ur ur ur" sound with the egg emerging with each "ur". These eggs are beautiful! You know eggs from the grocery store are ancient. They can be months old. We get to eat really fresh eggs around here! They are usually from one day to seven days old. YUM! They are better scrambled, in an omelette, in all baked goods.....SO much better....than store bought! I always tell the "girls", "thank you for your good work!" and I tell them to treat each other nicely! (That whole pecking order thing is so true.) Oh, but I do love them, they just make me HAPPY!