Happy New Year!

Happy New Year on this beautiful day! We are getting a taste or should we say a teaser of the days to come as the doors are propped open and we are enjoying a fresh breeze here at the farm. Our plans for the New Year are to explore the outdoors; eat some fresh worms and insects as well as begin laying eggs for everyone's enjoyment. Stay tuned to all our 2011 adventures here at Prairie Crossing Farm. Chirp, chirp...the Prairie Chicks.

Happy Holidays from the Prairie Chicks

The chicks were chirping loudly this morning and wishing Happy Holidays to all!

They are growing up...

The chicks will soon be 2 months old and are thriving in their home here at the Learning Farm. They are now big enough to eat out of the troughs and are drinking from the automatic waterer. This is huge for us Chick Checkers as we don't have to worry about frost bite on our hands from changing the water in these frigid temperatures. The warm sun makes their home nice and bright and keeps it nice and toasty.

They love their morning and afternoon visits and always turn their heads chriping "Hi" when you enter their home.

Barred Rock vs. Black Australorp

Barred Rock vs. Black Australorp - looking back a few weeks ago it was hard to tell which breed was which - can you tell the difference now? Hint: Barred Rocks have stripes.

The Gals at 1 Month

Check these girls out. It has only been a month and they are huge. It is so easy now to tell the Barred Rocks from the Australorops as their stripes are becoming more prominent. The are full of energy bopping around from here to there and are finding that it is nice to roost. Oh they are quite playful as you'll see them pecking at the shoe laces, one of their favorite things to do.

Chicks 2nd week on the farm

As you can see they have grown in just one week. They now have full run of the henhouse and truly enjoy exploring their new home as well as anyone that is in for a visit. They love to peck at shoes and play with shoe strings. At times you will even see them playing chase or tag with each other.

About Buff Orpingtons

These hens were introduced in the late 1800's from England. Known as "Golden Beauties" they make good mothers and settlers and are great winter layers.

About Rhode Island Reds

One of the most famous and popular breeds that are truly American Chickens. They are nice hens that have outstanind production qualities of brown eggs.

About Black Australorp's

This breed originated in Australia from the England Black Orpingtons. Introduced in America in the 1920's they are a popular and one of the best layers of light brown eggs of all the heavy breeds. They are quiet and gentle.

About Barred Rocks

These hens were developed in New England in the 1800's by crossing Dominiques and Black Javas. They are productive layers of brown eggs and will not be discourged in our Midwest winters. They are a steady and reliable breed.

The Chicks in their New Home

Here is a sneak peek of the chicks first week on the farm. We will post more as they grow and they sure do grow fast.

Upon arrival of day old chicks

Day old chicks arrive via the U.S. Post Office. Once they arrive and you open the box the first thing you must do is dip their beaks into the water. We put a little sugar in the initial waterers to give them a sweet treat from their long journey.

An interesting note: 50% of a chickens body is water, 65% of an egg is water. Thus making water the most important nutrient in a chickens diet. (From The Chicken Health Handbook, by Gail Damerow)

Our new chicks have arrived...

The chicks were born November 2nd at 10:00 a.m. We received our chicks via the post office on November 4th. All chicks arrived safe and sound. We are raising our chicks with Dea Dia Organics. They will grow up together and when they are about 4 or 5 months of age we will each take our respective hens to their pasture homes. Dea Dia is raising all Rhode Island Reds, while the Learning Farm has a variety of hens: Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rock, Buff Orpingtons and Black Australorps.

Saying Goodbye to our Hens

The gals have been working hard laying eggs for almost 2 years.. As the birds age, their rate of production declines, but their need for food and a good home remains the same. Egg production also declines when the chickens are molting (losing their old feathers), an annual process usually triggered by decreasing day length and temperature drops.
When that happens, the chickens use much energy just to keep warm, so egg production and sales decline – as you have already experienced if you were looking for eggs. It is common practice in commercial laying hen operations to keep each flock for just one year. We have kept our flock for two seasons and now is the time for replacement.
We are grateful to our resident hens for providing us with countless opportunities for learning, as well as with exceptional eggs. Part of the learning is the understanding that farm animals are not pets, and that all food production is an organic process which includes life and death. So the next step in the cycle of life for our farm animals is to be put to good use in the kitchen.
A small number of chickens will be slaughtered on-farm by an experienced crew on November 15th, with community involvement from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon. This is a great opportunity for anyone interested to experience the physical and the emotional work that is at the core of our choice to raise and eat animals for meat. There are many different jobs to do during this time, so if you are interested, please join us and participate as much as you’d like. The volunteer helpers are invited to join us for lunch at 12:15 pm. in the yellow farmhouse. The slaughter will be conducted with a spirit of gratitude, beginning with a few words of reflection to set the tone.
For more information about participating in our chicken slaughter please contact droth@prairiecrossing.com or 847-548-4062 x 11.

Why are the hens losing their feathers?

They are going through the natural process of molting which is the shedding of old feathers. During molting, which lasts about 1-2 months, they will stop laying eggs and resume once the molting process is complete. Hens molt around the average age of 14 months, however molting can be triggered by other factors such as cold weather and decreased light.

Why are the whites of the eggs more watery in the winter?

An egg customer noticed that some of the egg whites were not thick, but watery and the yolks were separated from the whites and wondered if this was a problem. We contacted our feed supplier to check on this as we thought their diet might be the cause. Our feed supplier assured us that the feed we are giving the hens is appropriate for the winter, containing the right amount of protein and calcium. However, he suggested that what may be causing this is the cold weather.

When a hen lays an egg the temperature of her body is about 102˚ . She is laying this egg into very cold temperatures (usually 35-40 degrees in the henhouse). Such cold temperatures may cause yolk separation from the whites. This is very common and has no effect on the nutritional value of the egg.

What can be done to prevent this?
In large commercial operations they gather the eggs and let them sit in room temperature for 24 hours prior to washing and packing. Currently we are not setup this way and may consider making some changes for next winter.

Hen Fun Facts

• Hens lay 1 egg every 1 ½ days.
• They LOVE bug hunting.
• Hens don’t need Roosters to lay eggs, just to have chicks.
• They live about 8 years. Most eggs are laid the 1st 2 years.
• Hens start laying eggs when they are about 5-6 months old.
• They eat feed, fruits, veggies and bugs.
• Hens do not have teeth.
• They can catch colds and get frost bite.
• A Hen can lay more than 600 eggs in her 1st 2 years.
  

What is the white stringy stuff inside of an egg when you crack it?

The strands are the chalazae which anchor the yolk in the center of the thick white.

They are neither imperfections nor beginning embryos. The more prominent the chalazae, the fresher the egg.

Chalazae do not interfere with the cooking or beating of the white and need not be removed, although some cooks like to strain them from stirred custard.

Source: Frequently asked Questions about Eggs, http://whatscookingamerica.net/Eggs/FAQ.htm

The hens are getting bored in the winter, what can we do?

A couple of things, we have noticed as well as some of you...the hens are getting bored! This tends to happen in the winter when they don't like to venture out as much, so we are going to do some things on our end to help entertain them, such as hanging cabbage, carrots, etc. in the coop.
If you would like to help them from getting bored feel free to bring any unspoiled, organic vegetable or fruit scraps for them during your shift. The scraps must be organic to meet the regulations for organic certification. PLEASE do not bring onions, meat and dairy. If you do bring any scraps go ahead and throw them around the inside or even the outside coop.

Why is there blood on the outside of the egg shell?

This is most likely caused due to the following:

This is often the result of straining on the part of the hen, where large eggs are involved. It may also be the case with a pullet first coming into lay. Avoid giving pullets too much artificial light until they are well grown before the commencement of lay.If the shells have small spots of blood on them, rather than streaks, then suspect the presence of red mites. Treat with an anti-mite preparation from the vet or specialist suppliers.

Source: Broad Leys Publishing, http://blpbooks.co.uk/articles/egg_problems

I get bloody ones every now and then too. I was worried at first, but I think as long as it is a once and a while thing, and the hens are all acting okay and healthy, it is fine. Their plumbing is lined with a lot of blood vessels, so if one gets rubbed just the wrong way... I'm amazed that they don't bleed EVERY time they lay an egg, especially the big double yolk ones!

Exactly- the egg chute is lined with blood vessels and it's easy for a young layer to break one. However this is something you can do to help her, and your other hens. From time to time provide some oil or fat for them in feed or treats. Wild bird suet is good for this. This will enhance the feathercoat, add calories for winter and lubricate the skin and all membranes, including those in the egg chute. She will love you for this!

This hen may have been a little tense in the cold air- heat tends to dilate the chute. Just a momentary shiver could have popped a blood vessel. Please let us know if this clears up.

Source: Backyard Chickens Forum, http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum

Blood spots on the yolk are not uncommon, even large one's. They are unappetizing but harmless to both the chicken and the cook. Blood covered yolk would mean an egg has been partially incubated and is unusable. As for the egg shell itself. Blood on the outside of an egg shell means the hen has popped a few blood vessels in the vent which is not unusual with a young pullet. The egg produced may have been a bit larger than she normally produces and ruptured vessels on exit. It is usually not a problem unless she continues to bleed long after laying the egg. If you can identify the hen that laid the egg you can ease things for her with a daily application of lubricant, even a little veggie oil will help her pass the egg cleanly. You will however need to make sure some of the oil gets into the vent about 1/2 inch inside. She will fuss and protest and it will take one person to hold her and one to administer the lubricant. You can dispense with this if the hen is indeed very young as it will correct itself within a few days. Remember to boost calcium and protein for these birds to encourage proper egg formation.

Source: Chicken and Roosters, http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_can_a_blood-covered_chicken_egg_mean

More About the Learning Farm

The Prairie Crossing Learning Farm

The mission of the Prairie Crossing Learning Farm is to educate and inspire people to value healthy food, land and community through experiences on our farm. The Learning Farm is one of the only organic farms in Lake County to offer educational opportunities to children. It uses three acres of land, several greenhouses, a children's garden, and a henhouse as outdoor classrooms. Learning Farm education programs rely on a staff that has expertise in both agriculture and teaching.

The Learning Farm is located within Prairie Crossing, a conservation community in Grayslake, Illinois, widely recognized for its preservation of open land and sustainable agriculture.

We offer a variety of programs at our farm. For more information visit our website at http://www.pclearningfarm.org/.

Why this blog?

We created this blog to better communicate with our Henhouse Helpers and others who volunteer their time to help care and tend to our flock of hens. We receive many questions/comments and/or observations regarding the hens. This blog will allow us to post these questions and respond so that all can be informed and learn about our hens.