Chickens to Pasture

We almost gave up on the laying hens last years (not exactly a profit center), but we selfishly missed them at home, as did our kind market customers. So, we are excited that the new batch are almost ready for adulthood, and definitely ready for fresh grass and plenty of bugs. The latter we have in abundance this year. Fresh, farm raised eggs are just one of those things that can't be bought in the grocery store. The Araucana chickens are our favorite, with smaller, blue eggs. These chickens are a "rumpless" breed, and apt descriptor of their lack of tail feathers. There is debate on the provenance of this breed...though probably from Chile by way of Southern Asia, where most chickens and chicken like ancestors originated. No wild jungle fowl lays blue eggs, but these rascals sure do.