Let's Talk about Eggs and Molting

A molting chicken, not ours, poor thing.

Let's talk about molting. Every so often chickens molt or loose and regrow most of their feathers. It's a process that takes some time 4-6 weeks. During this time most of their energy and their protein intake goes toward feather production leaving little for egg production.

What does that mean for us? Our disheartened little farmers have about 100 laying hens and are getting about 12 eggs a day. Yikes!! However, this spring they'll probably be getting 70-80 eggs per day. What does this mean for you, our awesome customers? Eggs are in short supply and are on a "if we have them, you can get them" type sales program.

With half of the layers being pullets (young layers) the production should pick back up within a week or two. The eggs will be slightly smaller but they'll be back to normal soon.

Now, before you go running off to the grocery store, this is a good post offer points to ponder -

Factory Farm

1) How are factory chickens treated? - In order to get production year-round of perfectly sized and weighted eggs a few things must be done. One of those things done that we don't do and don't agree with is installing a light. Egg production, like other things in nature is regulated by light. An artificial light can be installed to keep production up but this burns the chickens out and isn't health for them. It isn't health for us either actually...

One of our little farmers

2) You are paying the same price at the store for eggs that you do with us and getting an inferior, and less healthy egg. You may say that Amazing Grasses eggs are $3 per dozen but at Kroger they are only $.99. While this is true, it doesn't reflect the entire price you pay. How can a dozen eggs only be a dollar and the factory farm still make a profit and stay in business? Simply put, the eggs are "cheap" because the feed is "cheap" (often including other chickens, yuck). The feed is "cheap" because it's subsidized by the government. You are the government. So, taxes pay to subsidize the feed that's used to feed the chickens to get the cheap eggs. You paid basically the same price, you just didn't see it come out of your wallet and your cheap eggs really aren't good for you (or the chickens for that matter) which leads me to..

3) If you think pigs should be pigs, cows should be cows, and chickens should be chickens, then support your local pastured farmer who respects the "piginess of the pig" to borrow a phrase from our hero Joel Salatin. Factory chickens never see sunlight, are kept in a cage with a footprint smaller than the size of a piece of 8x10 paper, and have their feed and light tweaked to get the most production out of each bird. Our method isn't perfect but it's what makes the eggs taste great, the chickens healthy, and all of us feel good about how they are treated. We even have a chicken hospital for the weak or sickly birds that need some care!

Anyway, if you are still reading, all of this is to say that egg production is a little slow but rather than mess with what God has given us, we're going to respect the natural rhythm of things. Thanks for your patience and continued support.

Pastured Eggs really are good for you!

Oh BTW, some may say an egg is an egg. Those of you reading this know that's not true, at least if you've had our eggs. Are our chickens affected by the environment? Absolutely, in fact there some receipe books (mainly French) that call specifically for Spring Eggs, Summer Eggs, or Fall Eggs. These chefs know that depending on the time of year and available foods for the chickens the eggs can be very different in taste, color, and nutrients. The egg is truly incredible!

Our production method, portable coop, fresh pasture, plenty of sunshine and bugs.