Farm News

Here on the farm our hens are secure in the coop at night but completely free range on pasture during the day. We built the ladies many nice nesting boxes but they seem to enjoy laying all willy nilly in our barn and in little secret spots around the field. While it may take a few more minutes to collect the eggs, our smallest farm hand is getting eggcellent practice for when easter rolls around the stakes involve stickers in plastic shaped eggs.

Here are some fun images of our ladies in action:

This little pearl leghorn loves to hide out and nest next to our straw bedding

While these eggs were left behind by one of our olive eggers and a rhode island red under a tarp that covers our alfalfa.

Thankfully many hands make light of the work that is collecting the days eggs:

Finally there is some science to backup what so many of us intuitively knew about the health benefits of eating farm fresh eggs!

Eggs from hens raised in situations where they can eat seeds, grass and bugs are far more nutritious than eggs from confined hens in factory farms. Research shows that eggs from hens raised on pasture have:

* 1/3 less cholesterol

* 1/4 less saturated fat

* more vitamin A

* 2 times more omega-3 fatty acids

* 3 times more vitamin E

* 7 times more beta carotene

* 4 to 6 times more vitamin D

Now hows that for some good news for all of us raising a flock of sweet ladies in our backyards? For more information on the study that produced these facts you can follow this link.