Hollywood actress Reese Witherspoon is tending chickens at her California ranch and has been handing out freshly laid eggs to her friends.

“The chickens are laying more eggs than she [Witherspoon] can eat, so Reese started giving eggs away to her neighbours, parents on the kids’ soccer team and all her friends,” a source is quoted as saying.

The 33-year-old, who has two kids with ex-husband Ryan Phillippe — daughter Ava (9) and son Deacon (5) — has earned an unusual nickname after buying the birds.

“Now all of Reese’s friends joke and call her the chicken lady,” added the source.