I wasn't expecting any eggs until late September or early October. These little beauties showed up in August. The one on the right was especially small but we didn't care. We were just excited to see the fruits of our labor. Okay, the chicken's labor but you know what I mean. We bought all of the chickens in late April. I think I read somewhere that they mature around 6 months. It wasn't long before we realized that some breeds might mature quicker. We figured out that we had a buff rooster fairly early. First of all because that darn chicken was extremely ornery. It wasn't long though before he was growing a comb and wattle. It was at least a month or maybe more before we discovered two more roosters in the bunch. My younger children thought those roosters were being mean to the hens. I had to explain that they were mating with them. I'm sure Edmund doesn't "get it". I just keep telling him they are helping the hens to make eggs. He doesn't need to know right now that you don't have to have a rooster to make eggs, right?
These brown beauties showed up behind our grill on the front porch. I knew one of the goldens was sitting back there a lot but a quick glance (after Jake chased the chickens off the porch) told me she was just finding a nice place in the shade. The next day Peter came running in to tell me he found a bunch of eggs behind the grill. We were so excited to find these 6 eggs! I was especially excited because I wanted an omelet for breakfast. There is something about finding eggs when you weren't expecting eggs that makes the find something fabulous. And until you have had the opportunity to eat homegrown eggs (verses what you find in the grocery store), you don't know that there is actually a difference.
I really should have taken a picture of the 'home grown' eggs next to a store bought egg but I didn't want to contaminate my omelet. The yolk in home grown eggs are fairly orange while most of us know how yellow they are in store bought eggs. Doesn't that just make you feel better about eating home grown eggs? They are 'special'. It's kind of like the first time you ever make homemade bread from scratch. It is such a feeling of accomplishment. Although I didn't lay these eggs myself, I get that same feeling. Besides I am a color junkie. I just love things that are colorful. This is why, when I worked in a fabric store as a teenager, I had DMC floss in nearly every color. It didn't matter that I may never embroider something with color number 967, I just had to have it. This is why I'm eagerly waiting for some of our other chickens to start laying because I'm looking forward to the blue-green eggs as well.
So we celebrate because now we have these fantastic eggs from our very own chickens! Although we've had egg laying happening for a few weeks now, I'm still posting it under "Fantastic Friday" because we're eating eggs today. You can see what a bright omelet they make. I was really hungry so started in on the homemade toasted bread. I couldn't wait until the omelet was done. It still made a pretty picture. Anyone jealous about my yummy breakfast?
I wasn't expecting any eggs until late September or early October. These little beauties showed up in August. The one on the right was especially small but we didn't care. We were just excited to see the fruits of our labor. Okay, the chicken's labor but you know what I mean. We bought all of the chickens in late April. I think I read somewhere that they mature around 6 months. It wasn't long before we realized that some breeds might mature quicker. We figured out that we had a buff rooster fairly early. First of all because that darn chicken was extremely ornery. It wasn't long though before he was growing a comb and wattle. It was at least a month or maybe more before we discovered two more roosters in the bunch. My younger children thought those roosters were being mean to the hens. I had to explain that they were mating with them. I'm sure Edmund doesn't "get it". I just keep telling him they are helping the hens to make eggs. He doesn't need to know right now that you don't have to have a rooster to make eggs, right?
These brown beauties showed up behind our grill on the front porch. I knew one of the goldens was sitting back there a lot but a quick glance (after Jake chased the chickens off the porch) told me she was just finding a nice place in the shade. The next day Peter came running in to tell me he found a bunch of eggs behind the grill. We were so excited to find these 6 eggs! I was especially excited because I wanted an omelet for breakfast. There is something about finding eggs when you weren't expecting eggs that makes the find something fabulous. And until you have had the opportunity to eat homegrown eggs (verses what you find in the grocery store), you don't know that there is actually a difference.
I really should have taken a picture of the 'home grown' eggs next to a store bought egg but I didn't want to contaminate my omelet. The yolk in home grown eggs are fairly orange while most of us know how yellow they are in store bought eggs. Doesn't that just make you feel better about eating home grown eggs? They are 'special'. It's kind of like the first time you ever make homemade bread from scratch. It is such a feeling of accomplishment. Although I didn't lay these eggs myself, I get that same feeling. Besides I am a color junkie. I just love things that are colorful. This is why, when I worked in a fabric store as a teenager, I had DMC floss in nearly every color. It didn't matter that I may never embroider something with color number 967, I just had to have it. This is why I'm eagerly waiting for some of our other chickens to start laying because I'm looking forward to the blue-green eggs as well.
So we celebrate because now we have these fantastic eggs from our very own chickens! Although we've had egg laying happening for a few weeks now, I'm still posting it under "Fantastic Friday" because we're eating eggs today. You can see what a bright omelet they make. I was really hungry so started in on the homemade toasted bread. I couldn't wait until the omelet was done. It still made a pretty picture. Anyone jealous about my yummy breakfast?
