Who knew how exciting the first eggs from your very own food generating chickens could be? After months of fussing and worrying the small protein packages just appear one day. One of my hens is a real over-achiever and began laying at 16 weeks! I was not prepared and the poor thing laid her first egg on the ground. I felt like I'd let her down not having the nest boxes prepared with carpet bottoms and golf ball decoys. We quickly remedied that and now she regularly lays an egg a day in the nest. Today, another of her sisters caught on and laid an egg of her own. There was rejoicing in the household...we're such geeks. Still, it is a wonder that a 5 pound hen can take my grass, weeds and kitchen scraps and turn things that I would have thrown away into a neat package of perfect food. The yolks are orange and make the most beautiful (and tasty) yellow omelets. And, these eggs are much better for us than the factory farm raised kind. According the Mother Earth News, you can feel good about the nutrient punch that you get from your home raised eggs:
1⁄3 less cholesterol
1⁄4 less saturated fat
2⁄3 more vitamin A
2 times more omega-3 fatty acids
3 times more vitamin E
7 times more beta carotene
4-6 times more vitamin D
I'm surprised that we as an urban society ever gave up on backyard chickens. They require so little from us and the benefits are great. My chickens work hard for me in the garden eating weeds and bug pests. They'll prepare the garden soil for planting by scratching in the dirt in early spring. They provide hours of entertainment for the family (and the cat) and completely fascinate our grandson. In return, they need fresh water, chicken feed and protection from predators. A healthy symbiotic relationship...it's a good life for both of us.
Woo Hoo! This is very exciting! Congratulations! We can't wait to have our very own 'home grown' eggs in our backyard next summer. :)
Rachel
Posted by: Rachel | July 15, 2009 at 09:23 AM