All posts tagged: fresh eggs daily

Benefits Of Keeping Backyard Chickens

February 15, 2023 alchemist_farm Education

There are many benefits to keeping backyard chickens

Fresh eggs: One of the primary benefits of keeping backyard chickens is having a constant supply of fresh eggs. Eggs from backyard chickens are often considered to be of higher quality and have a richer taste than store-bought eggs.
Sustainable food source: Raising your own chickens can be a more sustainable and eco-friendly way to obtain your own food. Backyard chickens require less land, water, and feed than traditional livestock, making them a more efficient source of protein.
Pest control: Chickens are natural pest controllers and can help to keep your garden free of bugs and insects. They can also help control weeds and other unwanted vegetation.
Fertilizer: Backyard chickens produce nutrient-rich fertilizer in the form of their droppings. This can be used to fertilize your garden and improve the soil quality.
Educational opportunities: Keeping backyard chickens can be a great learning experience for children and adults alike. It can teach responsibility, animal husbandry, and the importance of sustainable food production.
Companionship: Chickens can be friendly and sociable animals, and keeping them as pets can provide a source of companionship and entertainment.

There are so many more! Chickens are the most generous of animals, they give and ask very little in return. Some folks say dogs are a mans best friend but we argue that it is in fact chickens that can be! 🙂

Connecting With Your Flock

February 13, 2023 alchemist_farm Education

Not sure how to connect with your flock and start establishing that sweet relationship? Give these suggestions a try! 🙂

Spend time with them: The best way to connect with chickens is to spend time with them. This can involve simply sitting with them, watching them as they go about their day, or providing them with treats and interacting with them. Chickens have unique personalities, and getting to know them can be a rewarding experience.
Handle them regularly: Regularly handling your chickens can help to build trust and a bond between you and your birds. Start by holding them gently and talking to them in a calm and reassuring tone. With time, they will become more comfortable with being handled and may even start to enjoy it.
Provide a safe and comfortable environment: Chickens are social animals and do best when they feel safe and comfortable. Providing a clean, spacious coop and run, along with access to food and water, will help to keep your birds happy and healthy. Adding a dust bath, perches, and other environmental enrichment can also help to make their living environment more enjoyable and increase their overall well-being.

In addition to these three ways, it’s also important to be patient and gentle with your chickens, and to always treat them with respect and kindness. With time and effort, you can develop a strong bond with your chickens and enjoy the many benefits of having these fascinating and entertaining pets in your life. May you all connect sweetly today with your flocks!

History of The French Black Copper Marans

February 10, 2023 alchemist_farm Education

Ever wonder About The backstory of this amazing breed

The Black Copper Marans chicken is a breed of domestic fowl that originated in France. The breed was developed in the town of Marans, located in the Charente-Maritime region of France, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The breed was originally used for both egg production and meat, and it was prized for its rich, dark brown eggs.

In the early 20th century, the breed became popular among French poultry fanciers, who worked to standardize its appearance and improve its egg-laying ability. By the 1920s, the Black Copper Marans had become one of the most highly prized breeds of poultry in France, and it was soon exported to other countries, including England and the United States.

In the United States, the Black Copper Marans remained a relatively obscure breed until the late 20th and early 21st centuries, when a growing interest in heritage poultry breeds led to a resurgence of popularity for the breed. Today, the Black Copper Marans is widely recognized as a high-quality layer of rich, dark brown eggs, its attractive appearance, and its gentle, docile temperament.

They are one breed not to miss in your flock! We have chicks available from Feb-October of each year and we ship nationwide! 🙂

How An Eggshell is Formed Inside Of A Chicken

February 10, 2023 alchemist_farm Educational Information

Fun Friday Fact
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We would love to start a new # entitled #AlchemistFarmFridayFact on our social media platforms of Instagram and Facebook if you have a nitty gritty question about chicken keeping, tag us and use the tag so we can see you. We will fold your question into our weekly Friday learning series!
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For this week: we are discussing how an eggshell itself is formed inside of a chicken.
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The formation of an eggshell inside a chicken takes about 20 hours. The process of egg formation, from the time of ovulation to the time the egg is laid, typically takes about 24 to 26 hours. The majority of this time is spent forming the egg white, yolk, and membrane, with the formation of the shell occurring in the final stages of egg formation.
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Once the egg reaches the isthmus, the next part of the oviduct, a gland called the uterus gland coats the egg with a thin layer of calcium carbonate, which will become the eggshell. This is where those cool colors come in! The egg continues to move through the oviduct and is eventually laid about 24 hours after ovulation. The exact time it takes for an eggshell to form may vary slightly based on the age and overall health of the chicken.
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Shown here is a basket of lovely shades that I think are a meeting of the land and sea. The greens remind me of our forests, the blues our ocean and the gentle creams are the clouds above at sunset.
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Dark greens: Moss Eggers
Light greens: Sage Eggers
Blues: Azure Eggers
Creams: Double Silver Laced Barnevelders.
Basket: Franchesca’s Easter Basket from when she was a wee lass!
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What do you see in these blends of color?
#alchemistfarm #AlchemistFarmFridayFact
#learnsomethingnew
#chickenhatchery

The Cycle Begins

February 3, 2023 alchemist_farm Education, Farm News

This week we turned on the incubators for our 2023 season and began the process of turning these incredible shades of eggs into baby chicks for you all.

It is a remarkably powerful moment that begins our weekly cycle from now until November of hatching. Every day I go into our hatching space and quietly touch each incubator, feeling the hum of its little motor. This practice helps me connect with the life that is quietly growing inside. I pray with each one for healthy chicks, solid hatches and the homes that each chick will end up in. We are all so connected, when you support us with your energy we support you back with these incredible beings and the prayers that go along with them.

We are 18 days away from seeing our first little Alchemist chicks emerge. This is that moment of the year that holds so much anticipation and excitement, it is hard to contain it!

This year orders have been a bit different, I believe folks are feeling the unsettled state of the greater poultry industry so they are securing their chicks early. If you know you are wanting chicks in spring I recommend ordering on the sooner side because February and March we are sold out of some breeds already.

We are so grateful for your support over the years and we look forward to adding to your flocks in 2023!
Eggs by color from the top:
French Black Cooper Marans
Heritage Welsummer
Sage Egger
Two lighter colored Moss Eggers along with Alchemist Blues
Azure Eggers
Dark Moss Eggers

Chickens in our Everyday Language

November 16, 2022 alchemist_farm Education, Educational Information, Farm News

Our Language

Some may think that a chickens behavior is simplistic and nothing like her own. Step back for a minute and look at all of the interesting phrases we have in our English language derived from a chickens behavior and from our interactions with them.

We don’t count our chickens before they are hatched, we certainly don’t want to put all of her eggs in one basket. We like to hatch out ideas, we can be cocky or we can chicken out, if we are worried we find ourselves walking on eggshells. Feeling frazzled? Perhaps you are running around like a chicken with your head cut off! If we are feeling stifled we want a chance to spread our wings and we definitely don’t like being cooped up!

Perhaps we are far similar than we realize.

Pictured here is the gorgeous feathering of one of our French Black Copper Marans Roosters. Presales for this breed and many others are open on our website for 2023!

Feathered Friends

May 26, 2022 alchemist_farm Farm News

From olive Eggers to sage eggers, from dark brown eggs to sky blue eggs. We have you covered here at Alchemist Farm.

Our Heritage chicken breeds have been carefully bred over the last nine years by us. We select not only for fun egg colors but also temperament and climate resilience so you can rest assured that your new feathered friends will be robust and healthy.

We believe there is a chicken breed for everyone, from fancy show chickens to humble homestead style birds, every chicken has a place on our farm! Thank you for your support each year and allowing us to continue to pioneer humane breeding and hatching.

Our Farms Blend of Organic Nesting Box Herbs

May 23, 2017 alchemist_farm Education, Projects Around The Farm

Organic Nesting Box Herbs

We take great care here on the farm to employ all organic methods in caring for our flocks and are asked often by our customers what they can do to optimize their coop and help their girls lay more. Giving the girls plenty of fresh water with electrolytes/vitamins during times of stress or heat as well as keeping the coop clean and disease free are the keys!

We love using herbs in our nesting boxes and specifically this blend of over 15 different ones because the hens can pick and choose which they would like to munch on while laying their eggs. The herb blend covers everything from digestion to parasite control, liver function and aromatics in the coop.

They store well, are easy to use and look beautiful sprinkled on top of fresh bedding. Our hens love getting comfortable on top of them and we know yours will too!

We recommend sprinkling on top of your nesting box bedding, and on the floor of your coop after a cleaning and using anywhere from a Tablespoon to 1/4 cup per nesting box.

We offer our herb blend in a 4oz (1/4 lb which equals out to 4 cups) recyclable container and shipping is included in the price of each bag. If you are already ordering hatching eggs from us we can happily pack one or two of these herb bags in the box 🙂

Here is what is included in our mix and the benefits each herb offers your flock:

Organic Oregano – Natural Antibiotic if fighting off infection, natural parasite control anti fungal

Organic Peppermint – Natural Insect Repellant, aromatic, digestive aid

Organic Lavender – Calming for nervous system (great for a stressed flock), aromatic, insect repellant

Organic Calendula – Anti fungal, anti inflammatory

Organic Spearmint – Natural insect repellant

Organic Yarrow – Supports healthy appetite and optimizes digestive tract

Organic Parsley – Natural parasite control

Organic Marjoram – Immune booster

Organic Dandelion – Liver cleanser, natural temperature regulator

Organic Lemongrass -Aromatic, immune booster, digestive aid

Organic Comfrey – Anti fungal, natural parasite control, natural temperature regulator

Organic Chickweed – Immune booster, contains vitamin C, B vitamins, Iron, Niacin

Organic Cilantro – Aromatic, digestive aid,

Organic Catnip – Natural insect repellant, digestive aid.

Organic Basil – Aromatic, digestive aid.

Organic Chamomile – Calming for nervous system (helps with flock stress) and digestive aid.

Organic Rose – Aromatic, antiseptic, antibacterial and Calming

Order some for your flock today!

This information is provided for entertainment purposes only and is not intended to substitute for veterinary advice. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.