One of our homesteading goals was and continues to be to keep chickens for our eggs as well as manure.
We also hoped to have enough surplus to sell a few dozen each week to off set our cost of grain. We thought it would be wonderful if our own egg cost would be zero. Our family uses about 3 - 4dozen each week. I do lots of baking.
This weekend we sold five dozen from our little stand.
Not only would it be a good idea financially, but we would also be able to provide ourselves with healthy beautiful free range eggs.
... so orange ....
Another benefit has been the pleasure of watching the children with our chickens.
... Abraham and Sarah with two girls ~ I am sure they know their names ....
Warm wishes,
Tonya
I am a chicken virgin!!! Never held one - I love that your children look fearless holding them. The photo say a thousands words for sure.
ReplyDeleteHappy Eating!
Nicole
That last photo is just too cute. How wonderful to keep your own chickens!
ReplyDeleteI am so jealous!!!
ReplyDeleteI had chickens (for eggs) growing up and LOVED it... I wish we could have some now, but our HOA says "NO!" 8-(
I love your blog, so nice to read! We too love and adore our girls. :) We have 6 - we thought 7, but have just discovered one is a rooster!! I'm really happy about that as it means more chooks and more eggs!!
ReplyDeleteBLessings, Saminda xo
Your yolks are indeed very orange. You must have very healthy chickens. Good work! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm what you call a "chicken enthusiast"...I LOVE our chickens, (and love to see other people enjoying chickens of their own)!!!
ReplyDeleteLovely post!!!
Maureen
I love chickens! WE are in the process of getting some chicks. First to build the coop, run etc... money is tight right now (ah taxes, bills that never end) but hoping I can do the coop myself with found materials.
ReplyDeleteDear Tonya,
ReplyDeleteAren't chickens wonderful? Yours look like they get lots of love! :)
I hope that you can indeed get a business going, to be self-sufficient with them.
Love,
Marqueta
How sweet, I am very happy for you and your chickens! There has been a lot of similar talk around here these days...
ReplyDeleteHope all has been well!
Chickens are so sweet. Don't you love how they hum to themselves when they are content??
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful Tonya, chickens are just amazing!!
ReplyDeleteI love all things chicken!!! We have friends that keep us well supplied with eggs from their 140+ fowl, but I would love to have my own. I think watching animals is nature's tranquilizer and nature's entertainment as well. I am happy for your kids that they get to experience life with chickens!!!
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of keeping chickens, and so do the kids. But we live in a country with COLD Winters and lots of snow (like you). So what happens with the chicken in the Winter? Do they have to be shut in their coop for months on end :-(
ReplyDeleteI am in the process of researching all of this, but would be interested to hear from someone who is already successfully doing it.
Thanks.
I love your pictures of the kids with the chickens...I am afraid I would be afraid to hold them, but I grew up a city girl...Not sure I will ever have any of my own but my daughter has plenty and even shares some wonderful fresh eggs with me...
ReplyDeleteAfter reading all the other comments, I feel a little odd saying that I am not a chicken lover. However, we do have something in common and that is the little shallow brown money bowl on your roadside stand. I have one exactly like it. It's traditional Dutch pottery. Fun to see that in your picture!
ReplyDeleteI wish I was lucky enough to be a neighbor and be able to visit your farmstand. I worked at a farm for a summer when I was in college and the chickens were fun. I live in Montreal and we do drive through Northern Vermont twice a year. If I ever see a "Natural Earthfarm" sign, I'll be sure to stop. I love your blog.
ReplyDeleteI would love to have chickens...your girls are beautiful, and so are your children. I buy my eggs fresh from a friend right up the road...there's nothing like farm fresh eggs.
ReplyDeleteI miss fresh eggs. Years ago when my children were little we bought fresh eggs and raw milk from a local farmer. When they sold their farm the fresh eggs and milk stopped. I just found someone who has eggs...yay! Your children sure do seem to enjoy those chickens!
ReplyDeleteWe had chickens for several years...for the same reasons you do now. Honestly, they were some of our favorite pets ever, too! :)
ReplyDeleteI just love fresh eggs. Our neighbors just put in a coop almost a year ago now when the city voted to allow coops and they share with us every once in a while. Otherwise during farmer's market season we purchase there if we can.
ReplyDeleteAH! I want chickens so badly!
ReplyDeletei also long for chickens...one day!! :)
ReplyDeleteOh, i wish i lived closer so that i could stop by your stand. Love the photo of your children enjoying the chickens!
ReplyDeleteHi Tonya, and thanks for stopping by my blog (www.joyfulmamasplace.blogspot.com) As I looked through your recent posts I couln't help but feel a little tinge of envy at all that SPACE you guys have! Oh, I am such a coutry girl at heart! Both my husband and I grew up in small towns, but now we live in the city, where space comes at a premium. I long to have a vegetable garden, and a few chickens, and room for my children to run around free. Thanks for all you are sharing - it allows this city chick *tee-hee* to live viacriously through you eyes for a few moments!
ReplyDeleteThis is how I feel about our chickens! Your kids are so cute. And in the post above about your ribbon runners. I didn't realize your husband is Mike too. Nice to have handy Mikes around and helpful toddlers!
ReplyDeleteNicola