FAQ
Q. Why did the chicken cross the road?
A. I dream of the day a chicken can cross the road and not have her motives questioned. Until then, the answer is, to get to the other side, of course, because the grass is always greener over there. Our hens are free-range which means their diet consists of grass, bugs, moths, grubs, and sometimes rodents like chipmunks or mice they find for themselves. These tasty meals are supplemented with cracked corn and laying mash. The wide variety of nutrients make them happier, healthier birds, laying eggs with stronger shells, and a bright yellow yolk.
Q. How many eggs does a chicken lay in a day?
A. As my grandmother, Clara Francis, the mother of 7, used to say, “One. Isn’t that enough?” In the peak of a hen’s production (from 5 months too 1-1/12 years old), a hen lays an egg every 25 hours. After that, production decreases every year about an hour (every 26, every 27…) until she dies.
Q. What do you call a male chicken?
A. A male chicken is a rooster, a female chicken is a hen. Roosters have large combs on top of their heads and waddles under their beaks. Hens have them, too, but they are not as large. Roosters also have fancy tail feathers and a loud crow (“cock-a-doodle-doo”) to attract all the girls, while hens usually just cluck. But both roosters and hens make a whole repertoire of sounds to communicate.
Q. Do all eggs have baby chicks inside?
A. All eggs have “potential” baby chicks inside. A chick will only hatch out of an egg if the egg has been fertilized by a rooster. Hens will lay eggs regardless of the presence of a rooster.
Q. Why are egg shells different colors?
A. The color of an egg depends on the breed of the bird. For instance, some birds on this farm lay light brown eggs…Rhode Island Reds, Sex Linx and Slamon Faverello (although, hers are lighter brown than the rest). Americaunas lay light green or light blue eggs. White eggs from the store are usuall laid by Leghorns.