Hens and German Pancakes

I love going out to the hen house to see what gifts our hens have left for us.  It never gets old finding an egg in the nesting box.  The hens know we are coming too.  When they hear the back door close they come running to see if we are bringing them treats or if we are letting them out into the chicken run. 

 This morning I made a yummy and beautiful batch of German Pancakes.  Yes there is a difference when using store bought eggs and those freshly laid.  The pancakes come out fluffy and a wonderful golden color.  The yokes of fresh farm eggs are a deep orange, not that dull yellow you find in the store.  They are firm and round and don't just ooze when you crack them open.  Don't believe me try it out yourself. 

Henny and Penny the Golden Laced Twins

These are two favorites.  They lay the most beautiful brown eggs.  They love to come running over to greet you to see if you have any treats for them. 

Zebra our Barred Rock (Plymouth Rock)

She is one of our first birds.  Her sister, Mama Fluff (a buff orphington) was killed by a hawk this fall.  We got the two in June of 09 and it was just the two of them till Fluff hatched and cared for 9 other chicks this past summer. Zebra lays big light brown eggs.  When I say big I mean monsterous. 

Cookie.  We don't know what type she is, but she was the runt of the bunch for a while.  She is now the same size of the others, but her little pink eggs are the smallest of the hens.

These three have yet to have names.  They are Americauna mix (easter eggers) we think.  We know that two fo them are laying and they lay green and blue eggs.  They are our shy ladies.  When all the others come out to greet us, these three stay back and actually run into the house to hide.

Snow White.  We are unsure of her breed as well, but she lays a green egg.  She is another that likes to run out to greet us.  She is probably one of our most leanest chickens.  

Lil' E being greeted by some of the ladies as he brings them a treat of grass he's just picked. 

Penny up on a perch.  It never gets old watching the ladies out in the chicken yard. 

Licorice, another unknown breed is a beautiful bird.  She is black with shimmering green feathers.  Up by her head and neck she has red feathers.  This was actually a surprise to find her in the nesting basket.  I didn't even know she was laying yet.  I will have to go out and check in a few minutes to see what her eggs look like. 

Well there you go.  You have now met each of our hens.  We love having them and can't wait to get some more little chicks this spring.  Who knows maybe one of our hens will go broody and they can hatch them herself. 

German Pancakes

1 cup flour

1cup milk

6 eggs

1 TBS vanilla

2 TBS butter

Melt butter in a 9x13 pan as you preheat oven to 425. 

Mix milk and flour till smooth.

Add eggs one at a time.  Mix till completely incorporated.

Mix in vanilla.

Pour into the pan and bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. 

Serve with syrup and powdered sugar.