Eggs of Piscataway Acres

Although the snow is falling here once again, I thought that people were getting sick of snow pictures and articles.  But not to worry, I am sure plenty more will come given how this winter has gone!

Here at Piscataway Acres we have had a number of eggs laid and hatched.  Although I raise about 100 chickens a year for meat, most of the chickens found on the property are egg layers.  Besides chickens, I have had eggs laid by ducks and rheas.  All eggs, from any fowl, are edible, although not all eggs taste good.  Some eggs are strong tasting.  For example, most Americans grow up eating chicken eggs and if they were to eat a duck egg, they would think it a bit strong.  But some in other countries eat primarily duck eggs and think chicken eggs taste bland.  Some eggs are stronger than others.  A rhea egg is very rich and has a slightly stronger taste to it than a chicken egg.  There are a lot of myths out there that eggs of different colors are healthier.  This is false.  Chicken eggs of any color have the same nutritional value, depending on how they were raised.  I have chickens that lay white, brown, green, and blue eggs.  (The green and blue eggs come from a chicken breed known as Araucana, from South America.)  Chickens that are allowed to be free eat more green matter than those raised in coops or other forms of confinement.  This green matter causes chickens to lay eggs higher in Omega 3 Fatty Acids, which some claim to be very healthy.

Eggs have gotten a bad rap the last few years for being high in cholesterol.  This is true, but there are are health benefits to eggs.  My unprofessional recommendation is to eat in moderation.  If you don’t have a cholesterol problem, the benefits of a couple of eggs outweighs the potential problems.  For more on eggs, visit the the Incredible Edible Egg website.

Last summer

After the DC area got hit with another massive snow storm, my mind turned to the upcoming spring and summer.  Despite what the groundhog says, spring is fast approaching.  Soon the crocus will bloom, then the daffodils and hyacinths, the garden will be planted, chicks will hatch, and the warmth will return.

It is hard to imagine how warm and pleasant it can be when one is shoveling feet of snow.  But I can clearly remember on the hottest days of summer trying to imagine a snowy, cold day.  For some, one season is all they need.  But I love the change.  Each season has a special set of challenges and circumstances that keep things interesting.  After all, I wonder if spring and summer would be so appreciated if we didn’t have snow days.

Eliza walking along the path

The snow has started to let up.  It has been snowing for 28 hours and my last measurement had about that many inches as well.  It is a lot of snow.  I worked this morning to clear a path for the pigs.  They squealed and squealed, but I think secretly kind of enjoyed playing in the snow.  I felt bad for the other animals as all of my tarps collapsed with the weight of the snow.  I allowed the sheep, goats, and alpacas out and they got some exercise running along the path I had cleared for the pigs.  All in all, everyone is healthy and making due.  Here are some pictures of the storm:

Finnemore and Chesapeake running to the barn - Finnemore is seen here jumping through the snow!

A pretty picture from the porch

Where's Waldo, I mean Brie?

A well traveled path

The Snow has Arrived!

For the last week, the weathermen have been calling for a “major snowstorm”.  For us in the DC area, a major storm is anything above 3 inches.  However, I would say that this looks to be a major storm anywhere.  We are expecting 24 inches of snow within the next 24 hours.  This picture was taken at 11:35 am, Friday morning.  The snow has just begun as light flakes.

This morning I woke up early to put tarps up behind the barn for the animals.  Although they are perfectly content just munching hay in the barn during these blizzards, I think that they are much happier being able to get out.  I nailed three tarps up behind the chicken coop and barn.  It isn’t much space for them, but is a lot better than them just lounging in their stalls.  I also moved their feed dishes, gave them fresh warm water, and let them all run around the yard a bit to get some exercise in.  Now that the snow has started, they have all moved back into the barn or are sitting under a tarp.  Alpacas and Sheep don’t seem to mind the snow, they have nice wool coats on, but pigs, chickens, and goats could do without it.

Chesapeake and Finnemore spent most of the morning out with me as well.  They are now laying by the wood stove warming their cold little bodies.  Throughout the storm, I will have to shovel a path for the piggies because they are not fond of walking in snow deeper than an inch or so.  They are very spoiled.

I will provide an update tomorrow on the blizzard.

From a previous post, I described how Jorge the rooster died defending the flock from a vicous predetor.  I have now found and aqcuired a new rooster.  The new rooster (name not yet given) is from Twin Oak Farm in Catlett, VA.  I was impressed with how clean and healthy everything was at this farm. 

The new rooster did well once introduced.  When introducing a new chicken into a flock, you should always expect a little fighting.  This occured.  However, the rooster is so much larger than any of the hens, that there really wasn’t much of a battle.  The hens realized very quickly that this rooster was not like Jorge, in other words, not a push over.  He is a beautiful bird, blueish gray, with a few gold flecks in his feathers.  He crows a bit more and a bit louder than Jorge, which I don’t like, but after all, he is a rooster.  I hope that his Araucana genes will prodcue the same quality of chicks that lay blue and green eggs as Jorge.

If any of you have any recommendations for a name for him, please let me know.

Late last night the snow started.  It was a very wet snow, thus, it stuck to everything making for a very beautiful morning.  We got about 4 inches.  I also noticed several tracks in the fresh snow all over the yard.  I think that between the death of Jorge and the high number of wild animal tracks this morning, it is time to get the traps involved. 

A noble bird indeed!

Jorge, my pure-bred Araucana rooster, has passed away.  The night before I was not able to shut the chickens into their coop until a little later than normal.  When I did get the chance to close the coop door, I noticed a trail in the fresh snow of footprints leading away from the coop and into the woods.  I quickly inspected the chickens who all seemed fine perched and sleeping.  I didn’t think much more about the trail and shut the chickens in and went to bed.  The next morning, I noticed that Jorge the rooster did not emerge from the coop as normal.  When I went looking for him, I found him lying dead.  I suspected the cold temperatures, but on closer inspection, I noticed that there was blood on his talons.  Then, I followed the trail of footprints into the woods where I found a few droplets of blood in the snow.  I assume that before I was able to shut him in, Jorge courageously defended the hens by fighting of an attacker, and in the process, gave his life.

He was a very good rooster for several reasons.  One, he was a lot nicer than any of the other roosters I have had.  He never challenged me.  He was also nicer to the hens.  He rarely crowed, which was nice because I am not fond of the noise roosters make.  His chicks were also terrific.  Very healthy stock.  Many of his daughters are now laying blue and green eggs.  I am collecting eggs right now to try and get a few more chicks out of him.

As the ground is too frozen for a proper burial, he will have to wait until things warm up a bit.  I am especially disappointed because I had hoped to have the same breeding this year as I did last.  I had excellent chicks.  I will write an update as soon as a new rooster can be acquired and introduced.  My only hope is that the new rooster is at least half the rooster that Jorge was.

Thanks for saving the hens, Jorge.  Rest in Peace.

I never met Gwendolyn the pet pot-bellied pig, but I am both sad and happy to learn of her passing.  Sad to have lost a sweet animal who, with her owner, led a campaign against unjust bureaucratic lawmakers in Prince George’s County, Maryland.  She amassed a number of news stories describing her sweet temperament and the extermination order given out by close minded people.  Gwendolyn the pig probably had more friends on Facebook than any other known pig.  These friends offered their support for a change in the counties inconsistent laws.  But there is also happiness in knowing that Gwendolyn lived out her natural life in a loving home.  She was older than any other pig on record- a testament to her good life.  When one looses a longtime friend and companion, it is of course a sad experience.  But I hope that Gwendolyn’s owner is happy with the fact that she provided a pig a happy home, a good life, and a natural death.

I would hope that those that persecuted her,  feel ashamed at their trivial actions.

Although I find this to be very strange, it is kind of cute.  Check out the Pig Olympics from Russia.  Perhaps next year, I could enter Chesapeake and Finnemore.

Can you see the eyes?

There is something spooky about going from the house to the barn at night.  It is always a bit scary.  It is not a long walk from the house to the barn, but on two sides of you there are thick woods.  Woods filled with all manner of wild beasts.  Normally, I hurry myself along and try to think happy thoughts.  Sometimes I think I see something move, or hear a twig snap.  My heart starts to race and I move faster.  But on nights like tonight, where the moon is bright, I don’t think I see things moving around, I know I see things moving around.  The moon light casts long shadows in the woods and catches the movement of creatures of the night.  Even worse, if you stop to peer off into the deep woods, you see eyes.  Green eyes staring back at you.  I know they can see me better than I can see them.  What kind of animals are these, watching my every movement?  Waiting perhaps?  I tread carefully, keeping my trusty guard pigs at my side, and finish my evening chores.  As I return to the house, I glance once more back, they didn’t get me this time…