Did you know that a chicken can “collect” fertilized eggs for up to a week before she begins sitting on the eggs? And that the 21-day gestation cycle doesn’t start until she begins sitting on them? Which means that there’s a one-week period where that fertilized egg could become either a chick, or an omelette? OurContinue reading “Hatching chicks”
Tag Archives: poultry
The Joyful Chicken, Part I
The natural progression of homestead animal stewardship usually goes like this: laying hens (females only), then after you build some confidence with chickens, a rooster is added to the mix, then chicks follow shortly. Because poultry is so much fun, ducks and turkeys come next, then meat chickens. Then goats. Goats are the gateway quadrupedContinue reading “The Joyful Chicken, Part I”
Free Range Chickens: Little Vulturous Destroyers
Our chickens are tireless. They’ve got serious moxy. They laugh at fences, sleep in trees, and throw large sticks aside in search of anything that moves. One day I came home to rubbermaid bins and chicken feeders broken on the barn floor because some bird was looking for a new nesting spot. We keep themContinue reading “Free Range Chickens: Little Vulturous Destroyers”
Chicken Nuggets
This morning I got a call from the post office. They were calling to let me know that my package had arrived and was ready for pickup. Delighted, I hung up and let my boss know that I had to take an early lunch to go pick up my chickens from the post office. WhenContinue reading “Chicken Nuggets”
Bellfern Homestead 