We are a one-rooster farm

Chickens are probably the easiest, most rewarding creatures on a small farm. They can call the most run-down looking structure home, self-feed during the summer while controlling insects, reproduce themselves easily, provide fertilizer, fresh eggs and meat and they will also make you laugh with their antics.

Russell Grant shows Kim the aviary he built for the farm's chicks

In spring 2003 we started our new chicken flock from the purchase of day old straight-run chicks. Straight run just means that they are not sexed so we ended up with a mix of hens and roosters. We started with Barred Rocks, Rhode Island Reds, and New Hampshire Reds, all of which are considered dual purpose, providing both meat and eggs. We prefer the eggs but Chris is going to learn how to process the birds for eating. Nothing can be better than knowing exactly where your meat came from.

Barred Rocks were developed in New England in the early 1800’s. These hens lay brown eggs and are not discouraged by cold weather, a plus in central NY. The Rhode Island Red breed is the most famous and popular breed of the American chickens. This breed was developed at the turn of the 20th century in the state of Rhode Island. They are quite prolific layers of brown eggs.

Our chickens leave free-range on the farm

You won't make much, if any, profit by selling eggs by the dozen. We do it because we love having the chickens around. More intensive management techniques could keep them at a high level of egg production but that takes valuable time, and light and heat in the winter. Value-added products are also worth more in the market, i.e. quiches, chicken potpies, meat for stews. Again, that all takes daily time requirements which are in short supply around here. For now we enjoy keeping chickens because they are quite amusing to watch, help out with insects and produce eggs all summer.

We also have a flock of guinea fowl. They are a bit on the loud side but they are voracious eaters of pest insects, slugs and snails. Slugs and snails carry a parasite that is quite a problem for alpaca.