Today we got our first... EGG!
Maybe I should backtrack. Last April we ordered a straight run of day old Barred Rock chicks. Over time we gave away all the roosters and a few of the hens until we were left with 4 hens. A managable amount for us and just enough egg production to meet our needs and have a few left over. But, for some unknown reason, the hens never laid eggs. We kept them until they were seven months old and it started to snow and then they, um, flew south. 
It was a disappointing experiment but we did learn some lessons. So this year I went in search of already laying hens and yesterday acquired 3 laying hens and 4 Rhode Island Red pullets, a week old (for my daughter).
This morning we were beyond delighted to find an egg in the nesting box. A few hours later, another egg. I have been waiting for eggs from hens for a year now and I am so excited to finally have some. This is one less thing that I need to purchase. (Okay, now I need to purchase feed but really I only need to do that once every few months, not once a week). Since my egg production has skyrocked with all the cooking and pasta making that has been happening lately these eggs couldn't have come at a better time. I am not sure that the novelty of walking out to the coop and collecting eggs will ever wear off.
Maybe I should backtrack. Last April we ordered a straight run of day old Barred Rock chicks. Over time we gave away all the roosters and a few of the hens until we were left with 4 hens. A managable amount for us and just enough egg production to meet our needs and have a few left over. But, for some unknown reason, the hens never laid eggs. We kept them until they were seven months old and it started to snow and then they, um, flew south. 
It was a disappointing experiment but we did learn some lessons. So this year I went in search of already laying hens and yesterday acquired 3 laying hens and 4 Rhode Island Red pullets, a week old (for my daughter).
This morning we were beyond delighted to find an egg in the nesting box. A few hours later, another egg. I have been waiting for eggs from hens for a year now and I am so excited to finally have some. This is one less thing that I need to purchase. (Okay, now I need to purchase feed but really I only need to do that once every few months, not once a week). Since my egg production has skyrocked with all the cooking and pasta making that has been happening lately these eggs couldn't have come at a better time. I am not sure that the novelty of walking out to the coop and collecting eggs will ever wear off. 
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