My Chickens and Their Eggs
As many of you know, I’ve long enjoyed raising chickens. I began raising chickens many years ago, primarily for their eggs, but I’ve also grown fond of caring for them, and learning about their many different breeds and varieties.
At the farm, I have four coops. Everyone loves visiting the chicken yard to see all the happy birds roaming in their large and enclosed space, well-protected from predators. My coops are located near my vegetable gardens, where during the non-growing season, the chickens are free to fertilize the soil - making those areas even better for planting. Chickens are not difficult to keep, but it does take time, commitment and a good understanding of animal husbandry to do it well. And in return, I get enough fresh and nutritious eggs to feed my family for the entire year.
Here are photos of some of my beautiful chickens and the process I use for packaging their eggs to give away. You will love the charming cartons I get from EggCartons.com. Enjoy.
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- This is a view of my chicken yard. I have several coops that are shaded on one side for hot, humid days. All the coops are locked tight at night to keep predators out. The top is also netted, making the chicken area very, very safe.
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- On this day, two of my young peacocks are also visiting the chickens. Peafowl are very curious.
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- I’ve raised many different chicken breeds and varieties over the years – they are all so beautiful to observe. I am fascinated by their many colors and feather patterns.
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- Here are my two Pomeranian geese – always very protective and very noisy, especially when greeting visitors. Geese have great eyesight, good memories and raucous voices – perfect characteristics for a pair of feathered sentinels.
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- Chickens prefer to roost on high levels. In their fenced enclosure, the chickens are provided ladders and natural roosts made out of felled trees. As you can see, my chickens are very happy birds, including this Black Copper Marans.
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- On this roosting ladder are two of my turkey hens. I love that I was able to incubate and hatch these beautiful birds right in my kitchen – they are doing so well.
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- This is a Buff Brahma hen. Before choosing to raise chickens, always check with local planning and zoning authorities to be sure chickens are allowed in your area.
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- Twice a day, early morning and late afternoon, the birds are given cracked corn. They also eat plenty of vegetables and fruit matter, and trays of wheatgrass that I grow especially for them in my greenhouse.
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- On the left of the doorway is a rooster keeping watch over the hens in this coop. Hanging feeders are filled with organic layer feed. It provides the hens with protein, which helps them lay strong and healthy eggs.
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- Dawa tends to the chickens and all the outside birds – they all know him and flock to him when he arrives. Once a day, he collects the eggs from the nesting boxes in each coop.
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- The eggs vary in color and size. Here is Dawa with a basket of recently laid eggs.
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- Meanwhile, back in my Winter House kitchen, there are many egg cartons ready to be labeled. These are from https://www.eggcartons.com/
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- I use their custom rubber stamp kit to personalize my egg cartons before giving them to friends. These kits also make great gifts.
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- The kit comes with a wooden stamper support block. The top of the carton is placed over the block before it is stamped.
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- Here, my executive assistant, Shqipe Berisha, inks the stamp with the written text for the box.
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- The stamp is carefully placed in the center at the bottom of the top side of the carton.
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- Shqipe presses down the stamp carefully but firmly.
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- And then gently pulls it up to reveal the writing. I love these vintage style three by four egg paper cartons.
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- Next, Shqipe uses the stamp featuring the mighty sycamore tree – the symbol of my Bedford farm.
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- She carefully centers it in the middle of the box lid.
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- Then presses firmly and lifts – it looks so beautiful.
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- Shqipe opens the carton and fills it with eggs.
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- An assortment of different pastel colored fresh eggs, straight from the coops.
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- One dozen fresh and beautiful eggs from my Cantitoe Corners chickens.
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