Where are the eggs?!

You may have noticed that the Learning Farm egg production is low right now -- I wish that this were not the case, but unfortunately it is. As with everything else we do, this situation presents a learning opportunity.

The Learning Farm chickens are heritage breed birds. They are selected for their friendliness and so best serve our core mission of education, but they are not known for prolific egg production. Egg-specialist breeds raised by commercial egg operations produce more eggs, but are more flighty and not as nice to work with, particularly for children.

We’ve had this current flock for about a year now. At this point in their life cycle they are molting -- they gradually lose their feathers and put much of their energy into re-growing them, which negatively impacts their egg production. The shorter days also cause their egg production to decrease. We are not currently providing supplemental lighting to increase egg production, but will begin to do so later this winter as daylight hours increase and the extra light supports the hens’ natural rhythm. Our flock management strategy is intended to respect the chickens, and allow them an opportunity to rest and rejuvenate during this time period.

Some egg operations butcher the hens when their egg production decreases like this. Other operations push egg production in ways that are stressful and shorten the hens’ life span – which doesn’t matter to them. Our chickens are used to provide learning and joy, and that extends beyond their ability to produce eggs. For example, 8th graders at the Prairie Crossing Charter School are tracking egg production data and analyzing the downward and upward trends. A volunteer group of parents and kids are doing an independent research project on food safety as it relates to egg operations, and contrasting the Learning Farm model with large commercial operations that have been reported about in the media. Younger kids love to pet the chickens whether they’re laying eggs or not.

The current plan is for the Learning Farm to maintain this flock until fall of 2012 – about one more year. I hope this information helps you to understand, to be patient, and to anticipate and enjoy fresh organic eggs that much more when production rises again. Thank you!