I have the answer to the age old question

, and it's the chicken.

Through a Master Gardening project, I met a friend who started raising chickens this Spring. The project was working with Cargill employees to raise food to donate to non-profit agencies. Yes, it's super cool that the two gardens and over a hundred volunteers grew and donated over 825 pounds of food for those in need, but let's talk chickens.

Someday I want to have a few egg chickens roaming my yard. However

, it can't happen now in my tiny lot in the suburb which I live. But my friend, she lives in the country. She's raising 23 chickens and has a 100 square foot coop that's set up as a moveable tractor. The chickens are free range, but are gathered up at night to safeguard them from fox, eagles and coyotes.

She says they all have personalities and has named several. I'm amazed at how the cute little fluffy chicks turn into fun looking egg layers. The two pictured here are called The Chipmunk and Bu (Bu is the first one).

It looks like her flock is a mixed group so there should be several different kind colors of eggs. Right now, they are a little over three-months-old, and they should start laying eggs in 2-3 weeks. I can't wait. I'm going to be one of her new customers.

So for now it's the

chickens. Then it's the eggs.

Do you have a flock or a special friend with eggs in hand?

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