Gina, the consistency and staying power of my McMurray hatchery “Ameraucanas” (really “Easter Eggers” according the show-chicken folks) astounds me.

Laying has been slow all summer, doubtless because of the beastly heat, but these two-year-old hens just keep plugging along, each of them producing a gorgeous blue or green egg three days out of four.

And no weak shells, which is another problem I’ve been having this summer.

I’m hatching out as many of the colored eggs as I can this year in order to perpetuate their good qualities. I have a purebred Ameraucana rooster, Domingo, and next spring I’m going to separate out my four original EE’s and make sure they breed to him (based on what has hatched this year, Sven the buff Orpington has been the dominant sire in the flock).

And I may just order some more “Ameraucanas” from McMurray.

I am told that the purebred, “to the standard” birds are not nearly such good producers.

Also, these “mutt” hatchery hens are friendly, beautiful, and full of personality.

Today one of the young refugee cockerels started to date-rape an unwilling pullet, and one of my brown Easter Egger hens charged him, knocked him off, and pecked him! I have never seen a hen do anything like this before. The little creep actually appeared chastened. Maybe he’ll grow up with some manners. (Domingo has impeccable manners, as did our first rooster, Henery. Sven is a bit of a jerk. The real delinquents from last year’s hatch went away to freezer camp.)

I’ll also say, if you want to hatch your own eggs (either buying them or keeping a rooster so they are fertile) without an incubator, buff Orpingtons are pretty reliably broody, and there’s nothing more fun than watching a broody hen fuss over and teach her chicklets.

I’ve got one orp sitting on her second nest of the season, due to hatch out in ten days; her first clutch, all pullets, should start laying in a month or so.

HH: What kind of chickens do you like best as layers these days?

(a) Not zoned for roosters, or in an area where a rooster would be a big problem for neighbor relations, and/or

(b) Not prepared to cull an extra rooster and put him in the stewpot

Then I recommend buying young hens or older pullets that are at the point of lay and definitely female.

If neither (a) nor (b) applies, then chicks are fun to raise. Buy pullets, never straight-run, which is a false economy, but don’t be surprised if a roo sneaks in to the slumber party.

Expect pullets of good laying breeds to begin laying by 24 weeks of age. You don’t have to wait a year!

But it was worth it to get to do the “Lida Rose/Dream of Now” number!

And I guess I’m in good company among other “Music Man” fans. My favorite musical of all time!

First time I saw a chicken at her place … ummm … pick up after a dog — I just about swore off chicken forever. Couldn’t sustain it — my husband’s cacciatore called me back.