[CSA Update] Welcome to week 9

In 2010 we introduced our first chickens at the farm stand - Lucy and Ethel. We wanted chickens at the farm stand to make it feel more like a farm and educate folks on where their food comes from.

We have partnered with local egg producers for a couple of generations. We grow great vegetables and fruits, and they have lots of chickens.
From the fun we had with Lucy and Ethel - chicken math kicked in big time.

We started hosting chicken 101 classes for folks to learn how to take care of their backyard flocks based on our experiences. We have learned a lot from 5 permanent coops and 8 styles of mobile coops.

Chickens have their own unique personalities. They are incredibly social - they can learn up to 100 faces!

Our current coop at the farm stand is divided into two groups. It is our favorite chicken coop to date. The central work area lets us access the nesting boxes from outside living areas. We can also put dust baths under protection so that the hens can bathe and play as often as they like.

In one run, we have our main flock of black star, red star, rhode island red, and barred rock. In our second run we have our barnyard mix of standards and bantams (mini chickens) with hens and roosters mingling. We utilize many of their eggs in our Hatch the Chicken rental program. You will see Misty in this coop - the white bantam with blue ears and blue feet that starred in a few videos with Farmer Joe over the winter.

Chickens require about 15 minutes a day with a good coop setup. We check their water levels, refill food, perform health checks, collect eggs, provide treats, and socialize with them daily. If they go without water for even an hour, they can stop laying eggs.

If you are thinking about chickens or don't have your own, please visit ours at the bottom of the hill at the farm stand.