Hen-fruit

It always amazes me that the little balls of fluff that arrive in a small box in the mail turn into some of the most productive and profitable creatures on the farm.

The layer chicks arrived Friday morning. While they seemed a little sleepy and bemused upon their placement in the brooder, that quickly changed. Within half an hour, they were cheeping, scratching, pecking, and drinking like they had always lived there. Not bad for two days old!

In a mere 18 to 22 weeks, these little girls will be laying eggs and beginning to pay their way around here. At that point, each pullet will be producing an egg approximately every 26 hours …and they produce without complaint…working for just “chicken feed”.

Eggs are a great source of nutrients and protein. Recently, the USDA announced that the cholesterol levels are lower in eggs than previously thought. They also contain more Vitamin D than reported in the past. This is great news for both farmers and consumers. For further egg information....check this out Incredible Edible Egg | Egg Recipes, Egg Nutrition & Egg Facts

Whether you call them eggs, cackleberries or hen-fruit, they provide great nutrition in a neat little package. The uses of eggs are deliciously myriad. They can be fried, boiled, scrambled, baked, shirred; they make soufflés puff, sauces creamy, and cakes and cookies soft and tasty.

However you choose to enjoy them, do so knowing that the “hen-fruit” from Homestead Hill Farm has been gathered within the seven days prior to your purchase and will last at least one month in your fridge.

A note about farm-fresh eggs: they do NOT peel well. If you are making devilled or pickled eggs and need the eggs to peel smoothly, try letting them sit on the counter for a few days prior to cooking. Yes, unrefrigerated. Yes, they will be fine. However, once you cook them…please refrigerate any leftovers.