We have blamed the weather and the molting of feathers for egg production numbers but perhaps it is because the chickens have joined the circus. They are too busy on the high wire act practicing to lay eggs. We caught this little cutie swinging from the misting system one afternoon.
Someone once told me that life has no meaning without a purpose. Tonight I found out what my purpose is–at least from the perspective of a chicken.
I was created for the purpose of entertaining the chickens. For some reason they have become fascinated with my shoelaces. No, it isn’t the shoes–I have to be wearing them for the chickens to take interest.
They chase my shoes and then peck at the laces. Go figure!
Well at least I have a purpose:)
After two weeks of wild weather– which prompted us to contain the new little fluff balls in our bathtub, the chicks are outside in the new nursery inclosure.
It is truly a pleasure to use the facilities without having beady eyes staring at you– although the little one that talked the most, “Chirpy the Wonder Chicken”, is missed a little. Here they are scratching around like little chickens should. Have no fear our egg loving customers–here comes the next generation.
Last week we got an e-mail from Miss B. a 2nd grade teacher in the area asking if we ate our ducks. As a vegetarian I was able to assure her that we use them for egg laying for our customers and as pets. The next e-mail asked if we could take in the classroom’s science project. All of the eggs they had purchased had hatched and the little ducklings were rapidly outgrowing their habitat.
Miss B. brought out this group first. The dedicated teacher who is here from New Jersey had to help two others from their shells and since they were a little smaller also had to give them a little more TLC. They came out last night to join the rest of the clutch of hatchlings.
The one the students had named Hercules clung to Miss B. and kept following her when she tried to leave. I could tell she was having a hard time letting go and so was the duckling. In a time when so many teachers are under such pressure to deliver test scores with little to work with and financial cuts to their paychecks as well– what a wonderful testament to the lengths these fine educators will go to for their students. Miss B. drove the 30 miles out to the farm on her Spring Break to insure that these little ones would have a place to grow. We thank her for this wonderful addition to our farm on behalf of all of our customers who buy duck eggs. We hope that she and her students will visit Hercules and the others often.
The egg on the right is a hen chicken egg and the egg on the left is from one of our ducks. We are currently outside looking to see who is walking funny…
Seriously though–ever tried duck eggs? We make a “Ducky Devil Egg Sandwich” that is fantastic. Duck eggs have more volume and fluff up incredibly in baking and omelettes too. We now offer them at some of our markets. Check it out. They are “just ducky”! “Cheese” and “Quackers” our spokes-ducks think you should try them:)
Here is the answer! Americanas or Aracanas lay those pretty blue eggs we have at the market on Saturdays. Here are the girls enjoying the weeds pulled from the garden. Since we don’t use any pesticides we have plenty of weeds during monsoon season for their “chicken salad delight”!
Meet “Quick Chick” Jimmie’s newest farm mascot. Ok–just the mascot for the chickens–don’t upset Bubbles! She was created/hatched by Caroline for Jimmie’s Birthday and we couldn’t resist taking her to Florida on our trip.
When we arrived we ate at Crabby Bills’ on Tampa Bay. Quick Chick or QC as her friends know her, was upset that her cousins are treated so poorly in Florida.
QC enjoyed the local sites as we traveled throughout Florida and went to Keith and Patricias’ hunting place in the woods. Of course our grandson Joeseph calls it his woods and he is right!
QC and Joeseph really hit it off and even dressed alike sometimes during our visit! 
QC was getting ready for her return flight in this picture and couldn’t believe we would make her fly such a distance before she even grew in her plumage! We reminded her about airplanes and she felt much better.
At last QC was happy to be home with her Peeps in the huge coop she shares with them. She suggested new spray misters so we installed them for her.
These beautiful new girls are now teenagers and are sporting some fantastic plumage. Here they are in there roomy pen looking at the big girls across the way.
At Chile Acres we don’t believe in caging chickens but allow ours to live in little groups or family colonies in large pens/enclosures that keep the mated pair of hawks in our backyard and the neighborhood coyotes from snacking on them. They have egg boxes for laying set well off the ground and roosts for sleeping at night. Our girls have swimming pools to stand in for cooling off in the heat and for fresh drinking water. Only the best for Jimmie’s girls!
That is why we have such great eggs.
Ingredients:
8 oz Plain Barn Goddess Fromage Goat Cheese
2 cloves garlic chopped finely
1 large eggplant thinly sliced
1 fresh Chile Acres Natural Egg
1/2 cup of Bread or cracker crumbs
1/2 cup of olive or veggie oil
salt and pepper
2 tbls of good spicy mustard
2tbls of chopped fresh dill
1/4 cup yogurt
Procedure:
Blend salt, pepper, cheese, and garlic together
beat egg in a small bowl
Dip eggplant in egg and then roll in cracker/bread crumbs
heat oil
gently fry eggplant slices until golden brown and set on a papertowel to drain
repeat until you have a plate full of golden brown eggplant slices
when still hot place a spoonful of the cheese mixture on each slice of eggplant and fold it over
mix mustard, dill, yogurt and salt and pepper together and place on top of each folded Eggplant Delight as a tasty garnish
Now enjoy an elegant yet simple summer fare! Squash may be substituted for eggplant.
Ingredients:
3 Chile Acres Natural Eggs (Brown or Blue will do)
1 bulb Green Garlic (Tonopah Rob has the best) chopped finely
2 oz plain Barn Goddess Goat Cheese Fromage
Sea salt to taste
enough oil to coat frying pan
Procedure:
Mix goat cheese, salt, and chopped green garlicWhip eggs by hand
heat pan and oil
pour whipped eggs into hot oil
When eggs are just about set and solid drop cheese mixture onto 1/2 of eggs
Fold over with a spatula and cook at low temp for 1 minute more
Remove from heat
Enjoy a delicious breakfast or quick supper!
Note: Bubbles wants you to know that Barn Goddess Goat Cheese is lower in fat and cholesterol than cow cheese! She also says that Goats Rule!