Soak the tamale corn husks in a large bowl with hot water.
Place the chicken thighs, onion, garlic, bay leaves, Kosher salt, and freshly-ground black pepper in a large pot.
Cover with water, and bring the contents to a boil.
Lower the heat to a simmer, and let the chicken cook for about 90 minutes, or until the chicken is nearly falling apart.
Remove the chicken from the pot, reserving the broth.
Allow the chicken to cool before shredding it with two forks.
Mix the shredded chicken with the salsa verde, and set aside.
For the masa, combine the masa harina, pork lard, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.
Gradually add in the warm reserved chicken broth, kneading until the dough is soft and holds together.
To assemble the tamales, spread a spoonful of masa onto a soaked corn husk, leaving a border around the edges.
*The masa should be about ¼” thick once it has been spread inside the corn husk.
Spoon a scoop of the chicken filling into the center of the masa.
*Do your best to avoid overfilling the tamales.
Fold the sides of the corn husk in towards the center, then fold the bottom of the husk up, creating a small package.
Repeat with the remaining husks, masa, and filling.
To cook the tamales, stand them up in a steamer pot over boiling water.
Cover with a damp cloth and steam for about 45-60 minutes, or until the masa is firm and cooked, and the tamales come away easily from the husks.
Allow the tamales to rest for 15 minutes before unwrapping and serving them hot.