Meet the Flock
The chickens (and cats) who make this backyard worth blogging about.
[ header photo coming soon ]
🐔 The Chickens
Seven hens, seven personalities — no two days are the same.
No. 01
Olive
Olive Egger
Olive, our toupee-sporting Olive Egger, is equal parts affectionate and sassy. One minute she’s chasing another chicken around the yard like she owns the flock, and the next she’s curled up in someone’s lap enjoying back rubs during a nap. Scratch grains seem to unlock her inner supervillain, but she’s impossible not to love. She’s also not picky about whose lap she claims — if you sit down, Olive is likely joining you.
The Lap Chicken
No. 02
Buckwheat
Black Australorp
Buckwheat is our beautiful Black Australorp and the flock’s natural protector. Sitting comfortably at the top of the pecking order, she keeps a calm, watchful eye on everyone while still being incredibly gentle. She loves cuddles and happily perches on laps, backs, or shoulders whenever she gets the chance. If you bend over too long in the coop, don’t be surprised if Buckwheat decides you’ve become furniture.
The Protector
No. 03
Gladys
Barred Rock
Gladys, our sweet Barred Rock, shares leadership duties with Olive and Buckwheat near the top of the flock hierarchy. She’s not much of a lap chicken, but she always likes being nearby. Calm, gentle, and easygoing, she’s often the one the rest of the flock gathers around when it’s time to relax.
The Peacemaker
No. 04
Shelby
Golden Buff
Shelby is our super friendly Golden Buff with one major weakness: food. She’s highly motivated by snacks and has perfected the art of launching surprise aerial attacks on food bowls, usually sending feed flying everywhere. Around here, Shelby has become the unofficial queen of chaos at feeding time.
Queen of Chaos
No. 05
Mabel
Golden Laced Wyandotte
Mabel, our gorgeous Golden Laced Wyandotte, is as fluffy as she is beautiful. She prefers a little personal space but still enjoys being around people and is usually one of the first chickens to greet us when we come outside. With her stunning feather pattern and calm personality, Mabel brings a peaceful energy to the flock and rarely causes trouble.
The Beauty
No. 06
Milkshake
Cookies & Cream
Milkshake is our tiny but mighty Cookies and Cream chicken. We didn’t realize how small she’d be when we ordered her, but what she lacks in size she absolutely makes up for in personality. Nicknamed Little Miss Enthusiasm, she bounces through life with endless energy and can practically launch herself through the coop door. She also earned the nickname Milkdud after we discovered the yellow coloring on her neck feathers wasn’t dirt — it was just her natural coloring. She’s impossible to look at without smiling.
Little Miss Enthusiasm
No. 07
Willow
Easter Egger
Willow, our Easter Egger, is quiet, curious, and independent. She always comes over to investigate when someone enters the coop, though she prefers to keep a safe distance. Unlike some of the more social chickens, Willow enjoys quieter corners and does things entirely on her own terms — including laying eggs wherever she feels like it. But when meat treats appear, her shy personality disappears fast as she pushes through the flock to claim her share.
The Independent One🐾 The Cats
The other residents of Backyard Clucks & Chaos.
No. 01
Lily
Even though we lost Lily in December 2025, she’ll always be part of our family. She was the definition of a lap cat, especially when it came to my husband, her favorite human. The second he sat down after work, she would come running to launch herself into his lap for yet another nap. She also had a habit of “fluffing” blankets while yowling in a trance-like state that felt strangely meditative. Like many orange cats, she balanced aloofness with an incredible ability to hear a can opening or smell grilled meat from across the house, instantly waking from even the deepest sleep for a snack.
No. 02
Lucy
Lucy, our gray muted calico, has a personality as colorful as her coat. Depending on her mood, she answers equally well to Lucille or Lucifer. She’s fearless around visitors and often wins over people who normally claim they don’t like cats. Lucy loves sunny spots indoors but acts like the outdoor sun might melt her on contact. Most of the time she wears the sweetest expression imaginable — unless it’s flea treatment day. Then comes The Look, a glare sharp enough to stop you in your tracks before she eventually forgives you and asks for more back scratches.
No. 03
Piper
Piper is a big, beautiful cat with an equally big personality. She fully expects regular compliments and complete attention while lounging nearby, and she’ll quickly let you know if you stop petting her too soon. Her wide range of meows includes everything from tiny chirps to dramatic cries designed to melt your heart instantly. While she adores her immediate family, Piper is far less enthusiastic about strangers visiting her home. Despite owning countless cat toys, some of her favorite “toys” remain furniture corners, chair legs, and a dangling leather string attached to one of our dining chairs.