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Flatland
Farm, LLC has jumped in to another venture - raising laying hens!!
I started out with 30 Bovan Brown hens from a commercial laying operation. They didn't range far out of the yard. So I bought 4 Silver Laced Wyandotte hens from some 4-Hr's at the county fair. That fall I bought 9 Rhode Island Red pullets and 3 California White pullets. Some of the original birds are still here, but more breeds have been added: Buff Orpingtons, Black Australorps, Ameraucanas (green egg layers), Amber Sexlink, and Black Sexlink.
So - along with everything else we do around here, these chickens are meant to
help us be sustainable. Eggs are a great product, but the chickens will also be
providing a necessary service to the farm. Insect control! We don't have it
ready yet - but they will have a chicken tractor out in the pasture and be out
during the day to eat those pesky fly larvae and hopefully laying those eggs in
the chicken tractor. I am feeding non-GMO feed and they get all the clippings and kitchen waste. They are great disposals!
The breed experiments will continue until I find the ones that will venture into the pastures farther. Eventually I would like to have a flock of chickens at each property to help with fly control. We will have to see how much time they take up this summer with the additional chickens.
It has been fun to see the temperment difference between the breeds. The Bovan Browns and Sexlink are by far the most friendly chickens. The Wyandottes are a little more stand-offish. The California Whites don't seek out attention, but they have settled down since coming and don't run away quite as fast any more. Now, those Rhode Island Reds! They are by far the most opinionated of the chickens in the coop. They don't hold back when they are unhappy with you. But, they are calming down, too. They will end up being just fine. I don't think I will be able to walk up and pick any of them up when they are wandering around the yard next spring, though.
Flatland Farm, LLC is now offering Farm Fresh Eggs for sale. Our chickens lay large brown eggs of varying shades and shapes with 3 chickens that lay white eggs that may be mixed in. We feed non-GMO feed and they will be out on pasture with our cattle to help with fly control. The yolks will become a dark orange color when they start to forage. For the winter months they are confined to a coop to allow us to harvest their eggs without them freezing.
We are charging $3 for a dozen eggs to cover our costs. We will gladly accept egg cartons in good condition to help keep our costs low. If you know you will need a few dozen eggs please let us know ahead of time and we will make sure to provide these for you if we can. Please contact us to arrange for delivery of your Farm Fresh Eggs!!
507-582-1073
Egg Handling
Flatland Farm, LLC spends a lot of time caring for their animals, and handling the products that are produced is just as important.
COLLECTION
Our eggs are collected at least twice a day. They are immediately placed in the refrigerator.
CLEANING
Egg shells are very porous when wet. We do not wash our eggs because you can force bacteria into the egg itself. The accepted method of “cleaning” an egg that has been soiled is to use abrasion (sandpaper) to remove any material on the egg shell. That is why you might find some areas where the shell appears scuffed.
SHELF LIFE
Eggs that are handled properly and stored in a refrigerator at 45 F will last 4 weeks.
SUSTAINABILITY
Flatland Farm, LLC is about sustainability. We will gladly accept all clean egg cartons. This helps keep our costs down and also keeps this useful product out of the garbage.
More information can be found at www.mda.state.mn.us/food