We have six new girls here at the farm. Referred to as pullets, these chicks will spend their first weeks inside the warmth of our house under a heat lamp. Every week they'll be able to withstand another 5 degree F decrease in temperature. As the days warm up, they'll be able to go outside and get used to their surroundings in a secure cage. These six are of mixed breed, and will start laying white to brown shades of eggs in late summer. This will bring the egg laying flock to 10 hens- with Hillary, the rooster, keeping careful watch over everyone. Hillary frequently takes on the hawks that would very much like to make our hens an afternoon snack. He's fearless, and it's only because of him that our hens get the benefit of free range days when they can have their fill of insects and weeds.
When you come out to the farm, feel free to bring left over vegetable rinds and bits, pasta, and breads to the grown chickens. About the only thing we won't give them is root vegetables and meats. They love to snack on "people" food and will often take it right from your hands.
One of the things we'll be building this year together is a chicken run- low in profile about 6 feet long by 2 feet wide. We'll place this at the entrance to the coop and carry them to the garden. Placed between rows every day we're hoping to use their expertise at weed control. As they devour the weeds we'll move them down the row throughout the day. If they can clear one row a day that saves us a ton of work!
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