The NPCs are an adaptation of the animals used for another mod, so if you want NPCs to breed and lay eggs, well, that could happen with the right xml. Take a look at the xml and read the comments. In xml you can set what the NPCs eat and drink, what they use for a toilet and what they defecate if you turn that onwhats their home block, what they use for a bed, food containers, etc. Other commands, like stay, guard, follow should be self explanatory. At the end of the route order the NPC to patrol.
You set the patrol route by giving the learn patrol route command then you walk that chosen route. They will require food and drink added to a storage container, or in their backpackotherwise they will look for food and water in the game. They are currently set to spawn in the friendly animal spawn group, but you can change that in xml. Once hired, you cannot kill them, nor can another hireling or allies in your party hurt them. Unlike previous NPCs, these can be hired then issued orders to stay, follow, guard, patrol eat, drinkand can even loot POIs for you. Many issues probably exist and they need help testing to make these NPCs work better.
