Last summer, I became an urban farmer. Okay, not really…I just started keeping chickens in my Baltimore City backyard when I got four baby chicks from my friend Joan at One Straw Farm. Over the last year, I have learned so much. Figured out what to do with hens that turned out to be roosters (oh, my…the drama), introduced new (hopefully) hens to the flock, got creative in food choices for them (they eat so well…) and all the while marveled at this relaxing, yet productive venture. After a stressful day, sitting in my backyard listening to the girls free ranging…you just feel at ease. And…the eggs. Ah, the eggs. Nothing like going out to grab an egg from the nesting box, still warm. Eggs have never tasted better to me. No going back now…
When I got the chicks from Joan last summer, the City allowed you to keep four hens. And just a few months ago, I heard they had raised that number to 10. Ten? What? Hmmmm. After having a few hens turn into roosters (three…but who’s counting?), I ended up with three hens…and I thought I was okay with that. But I kept thinking about it. I could get a few more… and make a few adjustments to the coop? Could I deal with ten? No. Not only is that a lot of eggs, it’s a WHOLE lotta poo. But I decided to move ahead and get a few more girls.
A few friends said they’d found chickens locally via Craig’s List. I thought I’d give it a try…and found a great listing of a farm out in Harford County that had about twenty different breeds of chicks and five breeds of pullets (young chickens.) I was so excited! Then…a friend told me that she had purchased chickens from this very farm and these new chickens brought disease into her coop and ALL of her chickens died. As incredibly sad as I was for her, I was equally thankful she had shared this news. Dodged a bullet.
So, there I went…online to research hatcheries and breeds based on egg color, egg production, hardiness, disposition and of course, appearance. I found four breeds I really liked – Speckled Sussex, Australorp, Silver Laced Wyandotte and Golden Buff (which lays more eggs than the Buff Orphington I thought I wanted.) They all lay brown eggs, most laying an average of five eggs per week. Then, a few days later, I got wigged out at the idea of seven chickens in my backyard and canceled the Australorp. The folks at Meyer Hatchery were wonderful – provided great advice and service – and their minimum order amount is just three chicks. Perfect for the faux urban farmer!
The chicks arrived three weeks ago. IN THE MAIL. The hatchery sends them to the closest post office to you and you have to go and pick them up immediately. You think…mail? Really? Yes. The chicks have enough nutrients from the yolk of the egg they were born in to live for a few days without food or water. The girls hung out with me at work and everyone came to see them. They were like little rock stars.
For now, Lucy, Nellie and Weesa are living in an old lobster crate in my dining room…just like my girls did last year. In the meantime, my friend Rob (God love him…he’s talented, easygoing and loves animals) is going to build a small coop for the chicks to move into outside. It will be separate from the mature hens until they are ready to be introduced to the flock. That probably won’t happen until the end of the summer. We’ll see…that is the hardest part. When you mess with the established pecking order, it can be a little scary…but you need to let nature takes it’s course. In other words, let the girls work it out. It’s sorta like putting Lindsay Lohan, Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton into an apartment. Mayhem.
My three mature chickens – Millie, Dottie and Edie – are all Ameraucanas and they lay blue and green eggs…fancy! I got these beautiful Martha-esque chickens very randomly – didn’t know what they were when I chose them from the brooder (and later, when switching out roosters, by catching them in the pasture.) People are always amazed by the color. And, no, different colored eggs do not taste differently.
This time next year, I will be getting about three dozen eggs each week. Am I crazy? My friends know I’m not…and that I will be sharing those eggs. Here are some great egg recipes….have some for dinner, or as I like to call it, brinner. Who doesn’t love brinner?!
Food & Wine
Mark Broadbent’s Grilled Asparagus Salad with Fried Eggs
The Kitchn
Eggs over Polenta with Tomatoes and Mushrooms
Fresh 365
Baked Eggs with Leeks
And…my very favorite? A juicy burger topped with a fried egg. For a really good one…go to McCabe’s.
Check out these fantastic egg cooking tutorials from the fine folks at the Kitchn. And…if you’re not checking out this site all the time, you need to start!
Considering backyard chickens? Here’s some good info…if not, you can get high-quality, fresh eggs at your local farmers market or organic market. Also, please check out this little video from the folks at the Lexicon of Sustainability. It’ll make you think about your choices…I don’t mean to be preachy, just good to know this stuff. Whenever possible, please go local!
Soft crabs…not be missed (or feared!)
Amy – A little advice. When you eventually let everyone in the flock mingle and meet- there will be major histrionics. I have always placed the “new” chickens in a seperate space at night (i used a large dog crate). When they are enclosed in the coop and wake up together, someone will end up with bloody legs and feet, because they can’t get to a safe place. Do this until everyone seems to be “playing nice” during the day. Good luck – its so fun being a chicken mom!
thank you – that is my plan, too. it’s going to be super gradual and in a separate outdoor coop for a while. lots of friends with chickens are lending advice…i need it!
Hi Amy! What do you feed your girls?? I’m reading so much about all the additives that go into chix feed that I am loathe to give it to them…. Also, one of my 3 girls, 2 x’s in the past 2 weeks, has had bleeding on her face 🙁 She lets me clean it w/ peroxide and comfort her, but I can’t seem to be able to find the source…. All seem to get along well together and have not noticed any fighting/pecking. The first time it seemed as tho the whole side of her face was bruised. This last time (Tuesday) the blood was around her comb. Been searching online without much success… Any thoughts??
Thanks! & LOVE your blog!!
Lisa
that’s hard to figure out without catching the behavior in action. any chance you can install a little video camera? could she be trying to get out of the coop or something? are there any sharp edges anywhere? i’m guessing not. have you gone on any of the chicken keeping blogs to see if anyone else has any ideas? is the one with the injuries at the bottom of the pecking order? she could be getting picked on…and if that’s the case, it should eventually work itself out. sorry not to be of more help.
i feed my girls layena. the mill in monkton recommended it and i can get it at howl in hampden. they seem to like the crumble more than the pellets. they also get a ton of veggies from the kitchen!
good luck…keep me posted.