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The ten-minute egg

Carolyn Herriot's Blog
Image: Carolyn Herriot | 20 Mar 2008
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As it turned out we now enjoy what I call ‘ten minute eggs’. Ten minutes for several reasons - on several occasions we have the great fortune to eat eggs laid only ten minutes before; also because it takes only ten minutes to clean the chicken house (once a week), and ten minutes to feed and water them daily. I have a flock of heritage hens, which come in all shapes and colours- Light Brahmas, Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rocks, Buff Orpingtons, and Black Australorps. Having a small flock of chickens turns out to be no big deal, and the rewards more than compensate for the efforts- they are ‘debuggers’, cultivators and fertilizers all in one!

Our ‘girls’ have the freedom of a large run in spring and summer and do an admirable job of keeping the horsetail there under control, (which means we get mineral-enriched eggs). In winter, once the winter vegetable garden is established, they become a permanent feature of the garden landscape. It’s easy to get them back into the run by simply enticing them with treats, which makes me feel like the Pied Piper of Hamlin for hens! At dusk their instinct for safety impels them to go back into the coop. Our last task of the day is to shut the door of the coop so that no predators (raccoons, mink) get in at night.

For the chicken house we chose a design from a 1940’s British homesteading book. We reckoned this would give us a workable prototype, as back then having a backyard flock of chickens was commonplace. The house is raised four feet off the ground, providing shelter underneath from sun in summer and rain in winter, and making it easier to clean out. Two windows, with shutters that slide up and down, provide adequate ventilation, and a central door provides easy access to the inside. The three nesting boxes are on the outside of the house, so that checking for eggs and cleaning means only having to lift the lid.

It also takes only ten minutes for me to clean the chicken house because of an inspired idea. The floor is lined with a sheet of tent awning, which is then covered with absorbent pine shavings. When the shavings need changing, I simply gather up the four corners of the awning and lift it into a wheelbarrow to take it to the compost bin.

The girls’ diet is comprised of organic layer mash (16% protein) and supplemented with crushed oyster shells, which provides calcium for eggshells. Kitchen waste provides scraps, which are thrown into the run daily, and we now have a thick layer of nutrient-rich material piled up along the edge of the run. I also give them a few scoops of my recipe for ‘Afternoon Delight’ once a day.

‘Afternoon Delight’ Chicken Scratch
A blend of:
Organic wheat kernels
Organic barley kernels
Organic triticale flakes
Organic wheat flakes
Organic oat flakes
Flax seeds
(Available from bulk food bins)

The most important thing is not to overcrowd the chickens. Too many birds for an allotted space means a pecking order kicks in, which constantly disrupts peace and order. Defeathered backsides and scrawny necks indicate the pecking order is causing distress to the chickens lowest in the order.

Mites can become a problem if dry sandy soil is not available for dust bathing. A dust bath provides the means by which birds can fluff out and clean their feathers. If mites become an irritation mixing diatomaceous earth into an established dust bath can control them. Scale mites building up around feathered feet can also be a problem. We noticed this when one of our Silkie Bantams began to limp. I cured the problem by carefully applying kerosene to the mites with a paintbrush, making sure none touched the skin underneath.

If you are inclined towards self-sufficiency I heartily recommend having a flock of feathered friends in your backyard. Municipal bylaws allow for 6 hens in an urban backyard, and with no crowing cockerel there’s no reason for your neighbours to complain. If they do, just give them some ten-minute eggs!

Click here for Carolyn's previous blog entry.

Click here to read Carolyn's next blog entry.

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Comments

Hens lay eggs whether they have been fertilized by a rooster or not. You only need a rooster if you want chicks. I value sleep too much to have a rooster crowing at dawn! If I have a broody hen I 'borrow' fertilized eggs from a friend who has a rooster, and the hen sits on them until they hatch, and takes care of them as if they were her own. A female chicken starts laying around 6 months of age, (many people buy them 'point of lay') and continues for at least 2 years. Some breeds lay an egg every single day!

April 10, 2008 at 11:15
Anonymous Says

Hi Carolyn,

I recently attended one of your Victory Gardens workshops, and didn't ask what I think is a dumb question, but now will anonymously... Okay, so you have no rooster, but then how do you get eggs?? Do you bring one in from a friend or neighbour to "hang out" with your hens? How often? Last time I checked my birds and bees, you need females AND males to make babies (eggs)!!!

April 7, 2008 at 11:28
Anonymous Says

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