Found 51 hits.

Handling and Storing Eggs – Recipes

...white thins and the yolks flatten. The chalazae – which look like white strings that hold the yolk centered – disappear. The fluids inside shrink and air pockets form. The membrane just inside the shell toughens. The egg takes on flavors and aromas from the outside, which is why it’s best to keep them protected in cartons. Throughout all of these changes, a refrigerated egg will remain edible for ten weeks, but will taste best within the first three. Long-term Egg Storage Before refrigeration, people were desperate for a safe way to store eggs. They oiled them, packed them in...

Chick Care – FAQ – Health and Behavior

Those tiny, peeping chicks that you bring home from the feed store or post office are ridiculously adorable and are obviously babies. They will require special care for the first four months of their lives. Have their housing ready for them. It’s likely that they’ve traveled to get to you, and they’ll need water, food and heat as soon as they arrive home. Chicks need to stay warm; their fluffy coats don’t insulate them like their adult feathers will, and so they have to live in a brooder, which will keep them safe and the right temperature as they mature....

Road Trip – HenBlog – Monday, April 28, 2014

...to deliver my various breads to a neighborhood bake sale that was held last Saturday. For spices and seasonings I rely on Penzey's who opened a store in Raleigh a couple of years ago. I especially like their double strength vanilla extract. Jean R Knew where you were going from the first sentence on FB. Wow -- has King Arthur's storefront changed. Then again, it has been over 20 years since I was last there when the shop was about the size of your kitchen and dining room. I am seriously considering treating myself to one of their week-long bread...

Fun Holiday Shopping – HenBlog – Friday, November 19, 2010

Ken The whole shopping thing drives me nuts, yes I'm a man but still!!! Here is what I don't get, so the stores all open at 3 or 4 am the day after Thanksgiving. They all have lost leaders at "rock bottom" prices and usually a handfull at each store to draw you in. But what doesn't make "cents" to me with this early opening stuff (now stores are opening on Thanksgiving too) is if I have budgeted $500 for shopping for the holidays does it matter if I spend it at 4 a.m or 4 p.m.? No, when it's...

My Favorite Smell – HenBlog – Wednesday, September 29, 2010

...choice between siblings and Chester, I much preferred the piggy. As it turned out, I got to have both. Chester lived in a plastic baby bathtub in my room that was layered with newspaper and bedded with hay. Hay at the pet store was expensive so we went to a feed store. It was an old building next to a railroad track. I was allowed to go into the loft and fill a paper bag with loose hay and it didn’t cost a thing. I remember the slants of light on the wooden floor, the quiet, and the green of...

New Chicken Coop Bedding – HenBlog – Monday, November 25, 2013

...Koop Clean at my regular feed store. I just changed over from sand to pine shavings in my coop for the winter. Although I like the way sand performs in the summer, it just seemed too cold for winter. I am looking forward to a followup on how Koop Clean performs over time. Suzanne I was thinking the same thing. You can buy zeolite alone from a good aquarium store. According to one fish-keeping book I'd read, zeolite can be re-used, if you soak it in salt water. I imagine that it wouldn't be worth separating from the hen manure,...

Books by Terry Golson

...love that we get from our dogs. Some of the photos are snapshots, and a few are studio portraits, but when it comes to photographing dogs, there’s always a bit of spontaneity, as our companions’ energy and personalities shine through. Here you’ll see dogs on running boards, gazing from porches, and by the sea. Wherever they are, they’re having a good time. The postcards are printed on high-quality, 5 by 7-inch card stock, and can be enjoyed in this book, or removed from the binding and framed, or mailed to friends. Available in The HenCam Store. Wholesale inquiries welcome. Vintage...

Workshops! – HenBlog – Sunday, September 9, 2012

Through this website I am connected to a world of like-minded chicken friends. I’m not one of those people who bemoan the collapse of community because of technology. At least in my life, it has broadened my circle to encompass the globe. (Anyway, let’s save that on-going argument for others.) But, it is true that email and websites aren’t the same as meeting in person, so I schedule events at which I can do just that. Today I’ll be at a Fern’s Country Store, in the center of my little town (it’s the only store!) to sign copies of Tillie...

I've Got an Etsy Store!and other fun things for you – HenBlog – Monday, March 10, 2008

Etsy is a sell site for crafters – each seller gets their own “store” on Etsy. It’s one of my favorite web sites. Not only is it fun to peruse (great user interface!) but since everything listed is made by the sellers, the individuality and creativity of each craftsperson/artist comes through. I apologize in advance if you lose work productivity today because you get entranced and can’t leave. I opened an Etsy store of my own to sell pinbacks and magnets. There will be more chicken-themed items up soon. But, if you know any knitters, I’ve got some lovely magnets...

Book Giveaway! – The Vintage Hen – Monday, January 14, 2013

Post Update: This contest is closed. Judy M. won! To celebrate the publication of Vintage Chicken Photographs: 30 Postcards, I’m having a giveaway! I am so excited about this book. The photos are charming, funning, and evocative. The quality of the paper, printing and binding is superb. To see more about it, go to it’s page on my store. (Did you notice that I now have a store? I have some fun plans for it!) All you have to do to enter is to click on one (or more) of the media share buttons at the bottom of this post....

Feeding During the Molt – HenBlog – Friday, October 10, 2014

...Auman There's not a store in our area that carries Lucerne...is there another brand that you could recommend? Terry Golson There are many, many regional feed companies. Just ask at your local feed store if they carry chopped alfalfa. Quality hay smells fresh. There shouldn't be any musty smell. And it should smell green! Liz Hello Terry! Love the photo's. Our five hens are in full molt. Some bare bottoms out here in Denver. (Ha!) Our Coop floor is covered in a beautiful mix of feathers. Was wondering if I can leave them on the floor (we use pine shavings)...

Signed Copies and Upcoming Events – HenBlog – Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Mother’s Day is coming up, and my The Farmstead Egg Guide and Cookbook would make a nice gift. If you have a neighborhood bookstore, please pick up a copy there. Tell the store that I sent you :) If you’d like a signed copy, you can purchase one directly from me through my on-line store. In order to keep the cost down, I ship via media mail, which, depending on where you live, can take awhile. So, if you’re thinking of getting a copy for Mom, don’t delay and do it now. Make sure that you leave a comment telling...

A Weekend In California – HenBlog – Monday, April 18, 2016

...the way to the airport we were able to squeeze in visits to two more stores, one a tack shop where I picked up some new reins for Tonk’s bridle.   And one was a classic feed store. It’s chick season everywhere. I wish this place was near me. I’d pick up a few. What a great selection, there are Iowa Blues, Campines and Leghorns, and they’re vaccinated for Marek’s!   I’m back home where the sky isn’t quite as blue, and it’s not quite as warm, but it feels like springtime (finally!) and it’s time to plant the lettuce....

A Sad Day – HenBlog – Wednesday, January 9, 2013

...how very old she was. Intellectually, I had expected that at some point this year that she would succumb to old age. But, it still came as a heart-wrenching surprise. In a way I’m grateful that it happened as it did, quickly and without suffering. In the summer of 2004, I took my seven year-old son to the local pet store to get him a rabbit. His beloved bunny, Spot, had recently died and he was bereft. Spot had been a house bunny, or, more specifically, my son’s bedroom bunny. Spot didn’t like anyone other than his boy. My son...

Wormer Warning – HenBlog – Friday, May 16, 2014

...store manager. He didn’t know. I did some research. Hygromycin B is an antibiotic. This is not stated on the label. I guess we’re supposed to know. Or, perhaps the manufacturer hopes that we don’t? Many of us raise chickens to have a source of eggs not tainted by drugs. Since this is being sold at feed stores to backyard hen keepers, and is packaged as if it is a natural supplement (after all, it has vitamins and probiotics in the ingredients), I am outraged. Hygromycin B was approved by the USDA in the 1980s, but, for business reasons, has...

HenCam 2014 Calendar – The Vintage Hen – Friday, October 25, 2013

The HenCam 2014 Calendar is in the store! Like last year, I designed it, and with a great deal of help from ITGuy Steve, uploaded it to Zazzle, which prints and ships it out. Right now, Zazzle is running a calendar sale, and you can get it for 30% off. Just click through to my store to place an order. Or, go right to Zazzle to take a look at all of the calendar photos....

LICE – HenBlog – Tuesday, May 20, 2008

...of Snowball’s feathers. When I picked her up and turned her over, there they were, swarming. Poor Snowball! Here’s a close-up. Just looking at it will make you itchy. Lice that feed on birds do not like humans. Thank goodness! But, I’m still scratching my scalp. I checked the other hens. A few of the girls have lice, nothing though, like the masses on Snowball. Buffy, already sick, had the most. This morning I was at the feed store when it opened and picked up a can of louse powder, came home and dusted Buffy and Snowball. Yes, nasty chemicals....

Tillie at the Bookstore – HenBlog – Tuesday, January 13, 2009

...meet Tillie on Sunday. There was champagne and cookies. I made these: I found these adorable gummy “fried eggs” at a store. Who could resist? I read Tillie Lays an Egg to a rapt audience. And then “Tillie” (you know her as Eggers on Hencam) greeted everyone. Eggers was absolutely fine away from her flock mates. The store was warm and interesting and she ate a lot of corn. She likes being a star. Isn’t my skirt just the best? “Tillie” and I will be visiting more stores soon. Check my appearances page for our schedule. (photos by Spencer Webb)...

Postcard Book Special Offer – The Vintage Hen – Friday, November 29, 2013

...here at HenCam. Purchase two or more vintage animal photographs books in my series through the HenCam Store and I will send you an additional book at no charge. There are three titles to choose from.   All you have to do to get your free book is to leave a “note from the buyer” at checkout, letting me know which title you would like. THE FINE PRINT This offer is only available for addresses in the US because international postal rates have made it prohibitive to ship overseas. Sorry! Offer available through 10 pm EST on Dec. 2, 2013....

Hard Boiled Egg Myths – HenBlog – Tuesday, March 1, 2011

...and 16 for large ones. Chill the eggs in ice water and then drain and peel. The eggs will be firm, but not rubbery, and will have a beautiful yolk. What you do not have to do is prick the end of the egg before cooking! I’ve seen this advice time and again, with the caveat that your egg will crack if you don’t. This is one of those myths that comes from a germ of truth. Years ago, before factory farms and cold storage, eggs were seasonal. Come winter and eggs were dear. A farmer would store eggs and...

Warhol Goats – HenBlog – Tuesday, August 13, 2013

...They do like *helping* with tools, but for some reason Steve thought he could do a better job without them supervising. So, the GoatCam is now back up and running, albeit a bit less colorfully than last week. We’ll be purchasing new cams, like the spiffy HenCam model, in the next few months. Your support via the coffee button, and through my store, helps us to keep the livestreaming cams in the realistic school of art and not in pop art. Thanks! Update: due to popular demand, T-shirts and gifts with this image are now available from The HenCam Store!...

Dressing The Goats For Halloween – HenBlog – Thursday, October 25, 2012

I was in a pet store the other day and saw holiday collars for dogs. Let’s call them “neck tutus.” They were sparkly and silly and happy. I never dress up my dogs (Scooter hates wearing even the lightest weight collar) but I am embarrassed to say that I thought, I’ll put these on the goats! However, I couldn’t bring myself to spend money on something so frivolous and which was sure not to be worn more than a few moments before all chaos broke out, so I left the store without them. But, I couldn’t get the collars out...

Alfalfa Update – HenBlog – Thursday, October 23, 2014

...small bales of weed free alfalfa at our local feed store...they are used for horse on the back country trails..it isn't sweetened with molasses..just plain...but my chickens are eating it with no troubles, I do offer good grit for them..it keeps them busy in their compost area! Lesley S Our feed store only sells the alfalfa pellets that are usually used as bunny feed, but are valuable as compost for the garden. In the spring I combine them with Epsom salts and put them under my shrubs concentrating on the rose bushes. I water them into a mush. The chickens...

CGPS – HenBlog – Friday, August 23, 2013

Did you know that all hens come fully equipped with a Chicken Global Positioning System, otherwise known as CGPS? Yes, indeed! The CGPS comes with a highly accurate search capability. For example, the hen thinks “raspberries,” and in no time at all she finds the site!   The CGPS is linked to every member of the flock, so that all individuals can meet at the location.   Once the site is found, the coordinates are never lost or forgotten. There is no limit to the number of locations that the CGPS can download and store. This flock’s database is soon...

On The Road – HenBlog – Thursday, March 11, 2010

...with hammers and power tools, etc). I can’t wait to put my feet up and have a long conversation. The next day, I’ll be giving a talk at The Wild Center. Check out their web site. I love nature centers. And nature centers with otters? The best! I’ve never been that far north in New York State, but I’ve heard it’s one of those places that gets into people’s hearts. On the way home, I’ll be stopping here. Good thing I won’t have a chicken in the car with me. I’ve been to the King Arthur store before, and I...

Previous Appearances – April 11, 2009

Northshire Book Store is an amazing indie bookstore in the gorgeous town of Manchester Center, Vermont. Make a day trip of it! This event is the day before Easter, so it’s the perfect time to enjoy a story about a chicken and her eggs. Tillie likes to travel in the car, and although it’s a long drive, we’ll both be there....

Previous Appearances – September 9, 2012

I live in a small community with an unusually high proportion of published authors. Ferns, the general store in the center of town (it’s the only store in town!) is hosting a Carlisle Author’s Booksigning. I’ll be there with copies of Tillie Lays an Egg. Stop by!...

Previous Appearances – March 28, 2009

Come and meet Tillie and me at this delightful store....

Chicken Tote Giveaway! – The Vintage Hen – Sunday, July 8, 2012

...in my area of CA now charge you for a bag. I've been bringing my own bags to the store for 20 years now. Long before it was fashionable. And some of my older canvas bags are really beginning to show their wear. So this would go next to my set in the car to grab and fill with all the little things I pick up as I run errands all week long. wendy Brimfield again! I am jealous.... watch out for that oddly beautiful young 'forsaken' man and his roof-rail tying skills, I need you to report back on...

Why I Don’t Use Avian Vets – HenBlog – Monday, December 17, 2012

...me to bring him in again and agian to be checked. I read online and figured it out myself. I could have saved $100's of dollars. laura b Great article. I havent found a local vet that would even know how to treat a chicken however I just found out about one that comes to our local feed store 1st thursday of every month that will. But none of my chickens are sick right now. Ive had chickens 3 years and we have had to put a few down when they were ill. Ive also used internet and farm store...

Gift Giving – HenBlog – Friday, December 11, 2009

Magic Cochin Hope you get the present of your dreams - I went to the feed store yesterday but just bought supplies for the cats :-) I didn't think of sending Clliff with a wish list from me - those giant squashy plastic bin/bucket things are good. Celia Terry Golson Come to think of it, I could use a new manure bucket - I love those flexible ones in neon colors! Ken I just love the smell of the feed store :-) I wonder if I can find a scented candle with that aroma> Happy Hanukkah!!!!! Judy Throm I just...

Repurposed – The Vintage Hen – Tuesday, February 24, 2015

...Indiana Carol, you must have had a very big family! 7 dozen eggs at a time? And you're right - no one had air conditioning back then! Joy Back in the early 90's we had milk delivered! It was a great way to stay OUT of the grocery stores and still never run out of milk! I still have the cooler, too!! Suzanne Growing up in S.California in the 1980's, we had one neighbor who still had milk delivered. She was very idealistic and civic minded, and now that she has passed away I wish I'd gotten to know her...

Not Too Sweet Breakfast Muffins – HenBlog – Friday, February 21, 2014

...is tricky to bake with – recipes burn easily and the crumb (a baker’s term for texture) is hard to get right. Also, pastries made with honey stale quickly, so any muffins not eaten on the first day should be frozen. (I store them in a zip bag, and remove one at a time, and warm up in the microwave.) But, I love the flavor that honey brings to these muffins. Just be sure to buy local honey. Supermarket brands often originate from China, are adulterated, and have high levels of pesticides. I’m fortunate that there are beekeepers right here...

Straw for the Path – HenBlog – Monday, February 23, 2015

This past weekend, Steve and I took a much-needed break. We went to a favorite inn in Vermont, and shopped at the King Arthur Flour Store, at three indie bookstores, and at two horse tack shops. I came away with excellent chocolate, a fascinating Auto Amazon Links: No products found. http_request_failed: A valid URL was not provided. URL: https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?SearchIndex=All&multipageStart=0&multipageCount=20&Operation=GetResults&Keywords=0062127187&InstanceId=0&TemplateId=MobileSearchResults&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US Cache: AAL_174fcfb00dbb5ccc6bd102fad42affac (I love nonfiction about science that I know nothing about, written in an engaging and witty way), and a new Auto Amazon Links: No products found. http_request_failed: A valid URL was not provided. URL: https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?SearchIndex=All&multipageStart=0&multipageCount=20&Operation=GetResults&Keywords=B006WWQ8U6&InstanceId=0&TemplateId=MobileSearchResults&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US Cache: AAL_2d205b522d767f7f63349997731c552e (some women...

Grit and Probiotics for Chicks – HenBlog – Tuesday, April 23, 2013

...invoice & ship. Also, if you have a store nearby that you frequent for chicken feed & supplies, let the store know you'd like to purchase it from them, and they can contact us to ship some out. Thanks! Greg Wahl BioNatural America Institute gwahl@bionaturalamerica.com Michelle D Hi enjoying your HenCam EVERY DAY !!!! I have searched the FAQ's but can't seem to find anything about whether I should just switch chick feed to laying feed slowly or not. The girls are about 14 wks old, I know I read they should get laying feed about 1 month before they...

The Chicken Medicine Cabinet – HenBlog – Wednesday, August 3, 2011

...irritated skin. (Follow the package directions.) Epsom salt, when ingested, can neutralize toxins, help get the intestinal tract moving, reduce runny poo and treat vent gleet. Olive oil is also one of those cure-alls. When a hen looks poorly and isn’t producing manure, I want to get things moving. A dose of a tablespoon, poured down the throat, can sometimes loosen blockages and help. Lastly, there are times when the only thing that will save your flock are antibiotics. These can be purchased online, at feed stores and from your veterinarian. There are many on the market, and you’ll read...

Year End Accounting – HenBlog – Tuesday, January 4, 2011

...want! The hens have more than paid back the cost of their feed (layer crumble at 11.50 a bag) and their treats. I made enough profit to buy a laptop computer last year. I try to have a few pullets over winter for good egg supply. They get "gifts" of cabbages and whole grain breads from the store discount shelf. Also, occasionally the store will supply huge boxes of greens for free. In summer I grow greens of all sorts and cabbages, sunflowers and calendula flowers for the hens...and all the tomatoes they can eat. This year, I hope to...

Nesting Box Bedding – HenBlog – Monday, March 23, 2015

For the last twenty years, I’ve used the same material in my chickens’ nesting boxes – pine shavings. They’re inexpensive, soft, absorbent and easily cleaned. The chickens can move them about to create the sort of depression that they like to settle down on. I once tried paper from my office shredding machine, but it stuck to the damp eggs. I don’t like straw because a) I don’t want to have to buy a bale and store it, and b) chicken manure gets stuck to it, and then the eggs get dirty. The same with hay. However, just because I’ve...

A Reading Rabbit – The Vintage Hen – Saturday, April 4, 2015

...and are now forgotten. Here in the San Fernando Valley times haven't been good for toy stores. My favorite, called Creative Play Resources, closed about ten years ago. It was one of those places where you could count on getting a colorful, stimulating, low-tech toy such as a kazoo or a cute set of watercolors. Fortunately my favorite health food store, Follow Your Heart in Canoga Park, has a counter devoted to those kinds toys- what a life-saver! :^) J.K.Feltri-George Nesting is also one of my favorite spots, Terry. I am glad that you mentioned that wonderful little store here!...

The Beast Emerges – HenBlog – Friday, April 4, 2014

...bushes are on the right side of the fence. Three feet of snow remains piled up on the left, a reminder of the snow plow that we saw so frequently this past winter.   There’s so much to do! The butterfly garden needs attention.   The Gems have offered their assistance and have been loosening packed down leaves and destroying all lurking larvae.   Yesterday I was in a store looking at gardening tools and noticed the seed display. There was a two for one sale! Despite the fact that I have not yet taken stock of the seeds leftover...

Book Giveaway! – HenBlog – Friday, February 15, 2013

This contest is closed. Congratulations to Ruth and your 4-H club! Gail Damerow has a new book out, and I have one copy to giveaway! Damerow has been dispensing sane, solid advice through her books for many years. I still turn to her first when I have something going on in my flock that I haven’t experienced before (after almost 20 years of hen keeping that still happens!) Her new book, Hatching & Brooding Your Own Chicks, is classic Damerow – well-organized, sensible and practical. In it, you’ll learn the basics of chick raising and care. But, I have to...

A Peek Into My Kitchen – HenBlog – Monday, November 9, 2009

...silver plate with almost no silver left. That color you see is the base metal. Helaine I have a rooster tea pot. It looks like he is crowing. My MIL bought it for me a few years ago. Helaine Carolyn If you really do want it shiny, it could be re-plated. I'm quite sure there is someone in the Boston area to do that. A jewelry store here in Raleigh has an 'expert' come in once a year to appraise such items and recommend care and treatment. (Met an employee of the store in a silversmithing/jewelry class I took and...

Farm Chic at Brimfield – The Vintage Hen – Thursday, May 15, 2014

...save it before some goes wrong. Meredith I would have snapped up that parakeet in a heartbeat!!! That's the coolest thing I have seen in a LONG time!! Lesley S Terry I just got a very similar egg basket at our local thrift store.Mine folds down flat until you pick it up. A friend who was also in the store pointed it out to me...saying I needed to have it. Egg collecting will be a little more special now. :) Terry Golson Mine folds flat, too. You can hang it on the wall of the coop when not in use....

Choosing Chicken Breeds Right For You – HenBlog – Wednesday, January 25, 2012

...same when faced with a crate of chicks at the feed store, or perusing the pages of a hatchery catalog. Decisions must be made and limits must be set. But how? To use another analogy, it’s like going to an auction. You’d better decide ahead of time how much you’re willing to spend before you’re actually face-to-face with temptation. Use restraint. Don’t go over. Few people with a small backyard flock decide on breeds based purely on practicality. Some chose birds based solely on appearance. We fall in love with feather color, fluffy bottoms and silly head plumage. We like...

What I’m Not Baking – HenBlog – Wednesday, August 18, 2010

It’s my youngest son’s birthday today. He’s officially hit teenagerhood. I offered to make him a birthday dinner. Anything he wants. “No thanks.” We eat together as a family at least five nights a week. Most of those meals are made by me, from scratch. So, a family dinner isn’t special for him. “What about a cake?” He shrugged. “Nah.” I love baking. Right now there are brownies on the counter. Last week there was a pile of molasses-spice cookies in the jar. What he wants is a store-bought ice cream cake. So, that’s exactly what he’s getting. With sprinkles....

Free Goat Feed – HenBlog – Wednesday, September 5, 2012

...a hayfield, and golden rod and Joe Pye weed are taller than me. Across the street, in my backyard, the goats say that they are hungry. Only boring grass is left in their pasture. All of the good brambly, thorny, leafy things are gone. So, I cut and gather armloads of weeds and put them in the goats’ manger. My harvest doesn’t make a dent in the meadow, but the boys are happy, and that last hay bale in the barn will last a little longer before I have to go to the feed store.   (photos taken with Instagram)...

Poultry Banner Giveaway! – HenBlog – Wednesday, October 24, 2012

...we humans honor and respect them for their place in our lives I think that’s a fine sentiment. All you have to do to enter this giveaway is to go to MIranda’s Etsy store and take a look at her listings. Then come back here and let me know which is your favorite. (I know some of you bee keepers are going to love her bee banner, and she has bunnies and goats, too!) One entry per person please EXCEPT if you put a link to this on your FB page or Twitter feed, then you get another entry. Just...

Things to Come in 2010 – HenBlog – Monday, January 4, 2010

...and “Help! My Chicken Looks Sick!” Steve has written one on HenCam technical specs. What would you like to read? Also, for the New Year, I’ll be opening a “store.” Some of you have asked about HenCam hats and t-shirts and such. Would you wear a HenCam baseball cap? Drink from a mug with Pip’s picture? Want notecards? A bumper sticker? I’m open to suggestions. We’re also working on a *free* ring-tone featuring Marge’s loud complaining. Won’t that be fun to download to your phone! All the Best in the New Year- Terry and the crowd at Little Pond Farm...

Milk-fed Hens – HenBlog – Wednesday, March 7, 2012

...was “freshened off.” Cheese and butter were ways to store the excess. Often, though, milk would sour. When it did, the pigs and the chickens were fed bucketfuls. Eventually, when farmers had hundreds, and then thousands of hens, this changed. Animals were confined. Grains were milled for animal feed. But, for awhile there, chickens were still fed milk. Spent laying hens were sold to middlemen, who fattened the chickens on milk before slaughter. Milk-fed hens were considered prime meat for the table. Although my teenager likes generic 1% milk, I want something better for my morning coffee fix. I splurge...

Happy New Year – The Vintage Hen – Monday, December 31, 2012

It’s New Year’s Eve! I have much to look forward to in the coming year. I’ve been working on several projects that will come to fruition in 2013. Very, very soon I’ll have a store up on HenCam and you’ll see one of them! In April The Farmstead Egg Guide and Cookbook will be published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. I’ve written other books that are in my agent’s hands, and I’m hoping that she will be able to find a publisher for one or more of them. I’ve placed a chick order, and a box of 25 fluff balls will...

A Surprise Winter Egg – HenBlog – Thursday, February 7, 2013

...will join the Gems and this barn will get scrubbed down and turned into a brooder. You'll get to watch the babes on the cam! Terry Golson 160 in January, 203 in February, and 247 in March. Downhill from there, as hens went broody! Carol Nice looking egg! This winter one of my pullets has laid a long narrow egg a couple of times. I love to look at weather underground and see how much longer tomorrow will be. February now is boasting 2+ minutes longer days. Hooray for longer days and happier, more active hens! Jen Stanton I should...