This week's Farm photo sharing is a group of snapshots featuring a bit of what goes into the feeding of our chickens to make them lay the tastiest healthiest eggs. We take pride in the health and well being of our birds; depending on their personalities, some even have names. Each is part of the family, we spend hours each day caring for, tending, feeding, cleaning their night pen, nest boxes, etc.
This set of photographs shows details of our fodder growing system. Fodder is a term used for growing microgreens for animal food. Along with the many bugs, grubs and plants that gain their infamous fame of being called weeds by growing in our gardens, we also grow a non gmo no corn microgreen mix. If these seeds were only wheatgrass, people who juice appreciate its healthfulness. Our mixture contains pea seeds, grain seeds and flax seed making a healthier Omega-3 egg. All seeds are soaked and grown with organic kelp meal, absorbing the many minerals and nutrients kelp provides. Feeding livestock seeds that are either sprouted or grown a little longer into a microgreen increases the nutrient content of the feed. The increase will vary from grain to grain, increasing the natural proteins, vitamins, mineral, enzymatic activity, omega 3’s, amino acids, etc., stimulating the immune system of the animal.
Healthier feed the organic, natural way makes for a happier hen and healthier egg. We have a sign on our Farmers' Market table that says "Healthy eggs from Happy Hens!" Folks seem to like the sign and a comment is often made that they would like to buy "Happy Hen" eggs.
The last photograph shows two of our miniature chickens (Old English bantams) enjoying some of their fodder.
