As we all know, backyard chicken coops are making a comeback. However, yard eggs are being sought after for those who don’t want to raise chickens or live in an area where they can’t. There are a few places within Santa Rosa County I know of where you can find these golden centered jewels. If anyone out there knows of another location, please let me know. The Bypass Farmer’s Market on Dogwood has them during the springtime, The Wellness Center in Pace, and The Other Place at the corner of Willard Norris Road and Dogwood Drive have a plethora of both brown and white. Average price of yard eggs would be between $2 to $3 per dozen.
Some recent questions I’ve found interesting would be as to why an owner of a flock saw two hens laying eggs in a nesting box together.
I’ve seen this happen many times throughout the spring in my own back yard and it’s quite normal. It seems my ladies all have a favorite box and whenever they all have to lay at the same time, they just jump right in on top of another. I’ve seen three in one box before. On occasion, while one hen is broody and trying to hatch a clutch of eggs, other hens will join her and add to the clutch. This can lead to a clutch of eggs too large for success for a young hen if the hen isn’t monitored. Once the clutch has enough eggs, simply remove the hen and her clutch from the box into a quiet, private, comfortable area to continue her brood. For a young hen, a clutch of 6 or 8 is more than enough. If she is sitting on too many eggs, simply remove them. If she’s only sat on them for a day or so, they’ll be fine to consume. If you don’t know, simply go into a dark room with a flashlight and look through the egg. This is called candling. If you see veins, throw it away. Sitting on her clutch for 21 days, you should see your first chick. One or two may not hatch and that’s normal. The more clutches your hen raises, the better she will become.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Cluck and Crow