Chicken Camp Memories -- by Emma Brown, Prairie Crossing Learning Farm Intern
What I loved most about being a part of Chicken Camp and leading some of the chicken activities was seeing how excited the campers were about the various activities related to our flock. Collecting the eggs was always an exciting experience, especially when there were hens in the nest boxes who didn't want to give up their eggs! It was great to hear the campers say "yeah, they might peck you but it doesn't hurt!" I was happy to see that the kids wanted to be a part of tending to the chickens and, even if they don't understand it yet, they are acting as a part of our community food system. That's something I think everyone should be aware of, and these campers started learning about it at Farm Camp!
One of the best memories I have of Chicken Camp is about a particular young camper. He loved the chickens, and the only thing he loved more than the chickens was feeding them mulberries from the tree near the chicken yard. Every time we went over to the chickens we picked mulberries from the tree and also the ones that fell on the ground. He would feed the chickens from his hand and by the end of the day his hands would be covered in sticky purple juice.
The day of our celebration, which is always the last day of each camp, the camper's mother shared with us that when he came home from Chicken Camp the previous day, he stated that it had been "the best day of his life!" We were so moved and so happy to hear that he had such a great time. I will never forget him and his love of the Learning Farm chickens and feeding them mulberries!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Broody hen surprise!
Sometimes you're just in the right place at the right time!
Having gathered eggs on my grandparents' farm as a child, and as a volunteer Hen House Helper at the Prairie Crossing Learning Farm, I have benefitted from many "close encounters" with chickens.
Tuesday I was collecting from a particularly broody Barred Rock Hen. I lifted the hen with my right hand and reached in the nest with my left to avoid being pecked. As I lifted the hen, she laid a warm, elastic egg directly into my hand!
Unbelievable! To see the "act of laying" up close and personal was truly amazing! Thanks to the Prairie Crossing Learning Farm for this experience!
Cynthia Horine
Editor's note: Thank YOU, Cynthia -- for volunteering your time as a Hen House Helper, and for sharing this amazing story with us!
Having gathered eggs on my grandparents' farm as a child, and as a volunteer Hen House Helper at the Prairie Crossing Learning Farm, I have benefitted from many "close encounters" with chickens.
Tuesday I was collecting from a particularly broody Barred Rock Hen. I lifted the hen with my right hand and reached in the nest with my left to avoid being pecked. As I lifted the hen, she laid a warm, elastic egg directly into my hand!
Unbelievable! To see the "act of laying" up close and personal was truly amazing! Thanks to the Prairie Crossing Learning Farm for this experience!
Cynthia Horine
Editor's note: Thank YOU, Cynthia -- for volunteering your time as a Hen House Helper, and for sharing this amazing story with us!
Friday, July 15, 2011
How to trick a broody hen . . .
I'm trying a crazy experiment with the hens this week. Many of the Learning Farm hens have become "broody" -- this means they are spending a lot of time sitting on their eggs hoping to make them hatch. Although that seems to be the hen's plan, it does not align with the Learning Farm's plan to package their eggs for sale!
We do have a few roosters in the flock, but we collect eggs twice a day and refrigerate them, which stops any fertilized eggs from developing into chicks. This is easy to explain to you, but challenging to communicate to the hens!
Based on my quick research, broodiness is not desirable in a laying flock for several reasons. First, they sometimes peck the volunteer Hen House Helpers -- it's not painful, but it's surprising! Also, broody hens may neglect their own health by not eating or drinking as often as they should, and their egg production may diminish.
Ready for the crazy experiment? I read that broodiness can be curbed by lowering the body temperature of the hen's underside. I read about some labor-intensive ideas for doing this, but came up with an easier, though crazier idea instead. We are going to try to reduce broody behavior by placing plastic eggs containing plastic ice cubes underneath the hens who exhibit the most "pecky" behaviors.
It's so crazy, it just might work! Even if it doesn't it can't hurt to try, and it's been fun learning more about chickens. I never anticipated using my undergraduate psychology degree on chickens . . . .
We do have a few roosters in the flock, but we collect eggs twice a day and refrigerate them, which stops any fertilized eggs from developing into chicks. This is easy to explain to you, but challenging to communicate to the hens!
Based on my quick research, broodiness is not desirable in a laying flock for several reasons. First, they sometimes peck the volunteer Hen House Helpers -- it's not painful, but it's surprising! Also, broody hens may neglect their own health by not eating or drinking as often as they should, and their egg production may diminish.
Ready for the crazy experiment? I read that broodiness can be curbed by lowering the body temperature of the hen's underside. I read about some labor-intensive ideas for doing this, but came up with an easier, though crazier idea instead. We are going to try to reduce broody behavior by placing plastic eggs containing plastic ice cubes underneath the hens who exhibit the most "pecky" behaviors.
It's so crazy, it just might work! Even if it doesn't it can't hurt to try, and it's been fun learning more about chickens. I never anticipated using my undergraduate psychology degree on chickens . . . .
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Chickens on the Farm Camp!
Whew! Last week the Prairie Crossing Learning Farm had our first Chickens on the Farm Camp! A great group of 8-10 year old students spent some quality time with the lovely Learning Farm hens.
During the one week camp the children learned about chickens, fed them, collected eggs, did chicken-related crafts, and more. The hens received a lot of attention last week!
Sound interesting? All of our children's Farm Camp programs involve collecting eggs and interacting with the chickens. Young farmers also dig in the soil, care for plants, harvest crops, and even prepare their own snacks during some camp sessions.
The Learning Farm has some spaces in the following Farm Camps:
Sweet Peas (4-5 years) -- Using Our Senses to Explore the Farm
Session A: July 19 - July 29 (2 weeks), Tues. - Fri. from 9-11:30 a.m., $200/child
Session B: Aug. 2 - Aug. 12 (2 weeks), Tues. - Fri. from 9-11:30 a.m., $200/child
Hungry Caterpillars (6-7 years) -- Plants and Animals on the Farm
Session A: July 19 - July 29 (2 weeks), Tues. - Fri. from 1-3:30 p.m., $200/child
Session B: Aug. 2 - Aug. 12 (2 weeks), Tues. - Fri. from 1-3:30 p.m., $200/child
Chickens on the Farm (5-7 years) -- ONLY ONE OPENING LEFT!
July 12-15 (1 week), Tues. - Fri. from 1-3:30 p.m., $100/child
Great Garden Gang -- Exploring Fall on the Farm (5-10 years)
Sept. 1 - Oct. 6, Thursdays from 4-5:30 p.m., $90/child
Registration forms can be downloaded at www.prairiecrossing.com/learning/farm.php We hope to see your young farmer at Farm Camp this summer!
Stay tuned for fun stories from last week's Chickens on the Farm Camp . . . .
During the one week camp the children learned about chickens, fed them, collected eggs, did chicken-related crafts, and more. The hens received a lot of attention last week!
Sound interesting? All of our children's Farm Camp programs involve collecting eggs and interacting with the chickens. Young farmers also dig in the soil, care for plants, harvest crops, and even prepare their own snacks during some camp sessions.
The Learning Farm has some spaces in the following Farm Camps:
Sweet Peas (4-5 years) -- Using Our Senses to Explore the Farm
Session A: July 19 - July 29 (2 weeks), Tues. - Fri. from 9-11:30 a.m., $200/child
Session B: Aug. 2 - Aug. 12 (2 weeks), Tues. - Fri. from 9-11:30 a.m., $200/child
Hungry Caterpillars (6-7 years) -- Plants and Animals on the Farm
Session A: July 19 - July 29 (2 weeks), Tues. - Fri. from 1-3:30 p.m., $200/child
Session B: Aug. 2 - Aug. 12 (2 weeks), Tues. - Fri. from 1-3:30 p.m., $200/child
Chickens on the Farm (5-7 years) -- ONLY ONE OPENING LEFT!
July 12-15 (1 week), Tues. - Fri. from 1-3:30 p.m., $100/child
Great Garden Gang -- Exploring Fall on the Farm (5-10 years)
Sept. 1 - Oct. 6, Thursdays from 4-5:30 p.m., $90/child
Registration forms can be downloaded at www.prairiecrossing.com/learning/farm.php We hope to see your young farmer at Farm Camp this summer!
Stay tuned for fun stories from last week's Chickens on the Farm Camp . . . .
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Farm Fresh Organic Eggs for Sale!
Farm Fresh Organic Eggs for Sale!
The Prairie Crossing Learning Farm hens have been busy growing up since the last post, and are now producing many wonderful organic eggs! If you have not purchased these delicious eggs before, I encourage you to give them a try.
Starting on June 10th, stop by the Prairie Crossing Farmer's market on Friday afternoon from 4-7 p.m. to purchase farm-fresh eggs for $5/dozen. You can also purchase seasonal organic vegetables grown by various farmers here on the Prairie Crossing farm, and other farm treats. The Prairie Crossing Farmer's Market is held at Station Square, located on Route 137 south of Route 120, across from the Prairie Crossing Metra Station. The Farmer's Market runs on Fridays from June 10 through October 14 from 4-7 pm.
Scrambled eggs make a quick and nutritious dinner on those busy summer evenings! I hope you come by the Farmer's Market and support the Prairie Crossing Learning Farm with the purchase of these fabulous organic eggs.
The Prairie Crossing Learning Farm hens have been busy growing up since the last post, and are now producing many wonderful organic eggs! If you have not purchased these delicious eggs before, I encourage you to give them a try.
Starting on June 10th, stop by the Prairie Crossing Farmer's market on Friday afternoon from 4-7 p.m. to purchase farm-fresh eggs for $5/dozen. You can also purchase seasonal organic vegetables grown by various farmers here on the Prairie Crossing farm, and other farm treats. The Prairie Crossing Farmer's Market is held at Station Square, located on Route 137 south of Route 120, across from the Prairie Crossing Metra Station. The Farmer's Market runs on Fridays from June 10 through October 14 from 4-7 pm.
Scrambled eggs make a quick and nutritious dinner on those busy summer evenings! I hope you come by the Farmer's Market and support the Prairie Crossing Learning Farm with the purchase of these fabulous organic eggs.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
The first egg has been laid...
The first egg was discovered on Thursday by our Montessori students. It was a little egg, but an egg. The girls are now 4.5 months old so right on time since a hen will begin laying anywhere between 4-6 months. Production should ramp up daily, so soon the Learning Farm will be providing fresh, organic eggs.
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