The road less traveled...back to good health! They have lice, mites, scale mites, worms, anemia, gl

[Beekissed]

What a pretty flock of hens! And I LOVE the names!

I signed up with my email and will start to post to any comments or questions anyone has about the posts. Is that okay? Kind of weird to post about my own posts...

 

[Bulldogma]

I signed up for them all

Thank you!!!

 

[Bulldogma]

What a pretty flock of hens! And I LOVE the names!

I signed up with my email and will start to post to any comments or questions anyone has about the posts. Is that okay? Kind of weird to post about my own posts...

LOL - the more comments the better - also, we can incorporate the questions people ask into our blog posts.

 

[Ashdoes]

Where does everyone store their eggs? Fridge, counter? And for how long on the counter?

 

[maryhysong]

In his book Harvey Ursery comments he never refrigerates eggs, just keeps them on the counter and uses within a week. I usually stick mine in the fridge because in the summer it's over 90 in my kitchen many afternoons and in the winter it's warmer in the fridge than on the counter ;-) Hatching eggs I try to find a coolish stable spot so they can be anywhere in the house depending on the time of year ;-)

 

[maryhysong]

My small flock of egg layers - Thelma, Louise and Lucy. Don't ask what happened to Ethel. It's a sad story . . .

What pretty and healthy looking hens! Just love how bright their combs are.

 

[Bulldogma]

Yes, I've also noticed that my yolks are huge. DH and I were just talking about how their feathers seem brighter and glisten in the sun. Another thing I've noticed is a change in comb color since beginning the FF. Seems deeper, brighter. A few pics to show the difference in my gal, Lucy. She's the "leader of the pack" and #1 egg layer.



Lucy - shortly after I got her, probably end of June.



Lucy - This morning.



Louise - This morning



My small flock of egg layers - Thelma, Louise and Lucy. Don't ask what happened to Ethel. It's a sad story . . .

Your girls are looking fantastic!

 

[normanack]

Where does everyone store their eggs? Fridge, counter? And for how long on the counter?

On the counter the day they're laid. First, they don't all lay at the same time, so I can keep a daily count by not refrigerating them till they're all present and accounted for. Second, I like to look at them.

Then they go in the refrigerator. My husband came up with this system, which sounds complicated but really isn't:

Label some empty egg cartons #1, #2, #3, #4 etc. depending on how many dozen eggs you tend to have in the fridge, plus a few more.

Start by filling the cartons with the eggs you already have. The newest eggs go in the highest number of the number of dozens you currently have, continuing till the oldest eggs are in #1.

Use the eggs from the lowest number. Add empty higher-number cartons as needed, setting aside the low numbers as you use up the eggs. When you get to your highest number, cycle back to #1.

If I'm baking and the recipe calls for eggs at room temperature, I just grab the eggs on the counter.

 

[delisha]

I do not refrigerate my eggs. I never have them that long. I am usually back logged for client pick ups. If I ever get a full 2 dozen on the counter I make a call and it is gone. I do not want to get so many eggs I am collecting a couple of dozen a day. I like being short on supply, it makes the demand nicer and no complaining about egg prices. I could probably add a dozen more egg laying hens comfortably for egg demand, however, if you do the math, it is not economical to feed birds just for egg sales. I raise for food and eggs. I sell extra chicks and eggs to cover the cost of feed.

 

[Mtn Laurel]

What pretty and healthy looking hens! Just love how bright their combs are.

Thank you! They owe it all to fermented feed, deep litter, and - of course - Bee!

I've been eyeing their red combs and then looking at my 11 year old brown lab and my 3 year old coon hound and thinking about introducing fermented foods into their diet. Gradually. Maybe just veggies, at first. I'm very, very curious . . .