Circumventing The High Price of Eggs

We love having a flock of chickens.   They were the first to call the farm home, and if I have my way will always be a part of our farm life.

These days, however, we look at our chickens a little differently.  Each day, as we open the door to their coops, we do a quick assessment to make sure everyone is alive and healthy.  It's a little like walking on eggshells these days.  (And if you have been to a grocery store lately, you realize what a commodity those eggshells can be!)

Avian flu has decimated over 58 million chickens nationally during 2022 -2023 and driven the price of eggs skyward.


With fingers crossed and knocking on wood, we have been very lucky to date.  I believe the warmer weather has helped.  Normally, in the colder weeks of winter, some wild birds roost in the henhouses at night to get out of the cold (who could blame them!). This winter, with warmer temperatures only a single little wild bird roosts in one of our houses.  It seems to be the same bird nightly. Wild birds spread Avian flu.

One thing that our chickens have going for them is the amount of time that they spend out on pasture.  Backyard chickens are typically much healthier than chickens raised in industrial farming conditions.  One thing that we have been doing is giving the chickens their snacks and scraps in large feed bowls rather than on the ground to reduce contamination with feces.

We've also been cleaning our chicken houses a little more often... on top of trying to remove the night's manure droppings each morning.

I pray that we make it through this bird flu without our chickens being infected.  Time will tell.

We had a beautiful sunny day yesterday. 


 Everyone enjoyed the light.


I love how the pond mallards' heads shine in the sunlight... such a beautiful green!  And, in case you wondered, ducks can get infected by avian influenza, but usually do not get sick.

I opened up the she-shed early in the morning and lit the fire... planning to spend a few hours in the warm cozy sitting area.  And then I got involved in cleaning and organizing another corner of the house, and before you know it, time got away from me and my fire died.  Ahhh well.... another day


Look what we found in the front pasture yesterday...
daffodils are up!  This is way too early, and I fear that this weekend when the temperature plunges, these poor babies are going to be traumatized.  Perhaps I will cover them with some hay for protection. [I just came up with that idea while typing this!]
Fingers crossed for you, little daffodil babies!


Happy Groundhog Day!  I am hoping that he does not see his shadow...meaning that spring is rapidly approaching!

Comments

jaz@octoberfarm said…
my daffodils are up about 6 inches and i am afraid they are going to freeze. i need to see if i have any straw left and i will cover them too. thanks for the idea!
This N That said…
I think the groundhog always sees his shadow because he’s got so many spotlights on him. Enjoy your day. Hope your chickens stay well. Keep warm hugs.
Happy groundhog day! I'm pretty sure he is going to see his shadow today.
THE BEARDED ONE said…
BARBARAS DAFFODILS HAVE BEEN YOU FOR 3/4 WEEKS AND HAVE BEEN BLOOMIG FOR A WEEK..YES..WE ARE IN TENNESSEE BUT WE HAVE BEEN HAVING A FREEZE THE PAST 3 DAYS..ICE ICE ICE AND STILL ICE TODAY...FREEZING...HOPEFULLY..IT WILL WARM UP SOON..YOUR GREAT PICS AND COMMENTS ARE AWESOME...YOU ARE SUCH A BRILLANT LADY AND WELL INFORMED ON ABOUT ANY SUBJECT THAT COMES UP...YOU HELP TO """MAKE""" ALL OF OUR DAYS...KEEP SMILING !!!!
Well, Phil saw his shadow! Being a winter person I'm happy about it although here in Oregon this usually means rain and not the picturesque snow covered world I wish we would have.
Couldn't they come up with a vaccine for the birdflue?
Gosh.....that moves my heart seeing your daffodils popping up in your yard! How I wish it was spring time now! Yes I hope and pray that all your avian friends continue to stay healthy. You guys do such a good job of keeping things clean and feeding out of big bowls, etc. Seems like you think of everything! I think we have more snow and ice this year, than we have ever had here. And you don't have any! Such a strange year. Take care.