Gaining hennies

Our hennies haven’t been laying since the end of November. I’m hoping they’ll start laying soon.

Recent picture of the Wyandottes. They are looking like they are ready to lay …

I have other news about eggs though.

We’ve been getting eggs from the meat store a few miles up the road, which carries mostly natural/organic meat varieties. The eggs were from a farm a bit north and west of there. That farm also has honey.

The other day my hubby came home from the meat store and told me that they said the farm was closing, so they’d not have any more eggs once the store’s current supply ran out. So he bought 5 doz. eggs.

We pass that farm when driving around sometimes, and I’ve wanted to go there, they are open to visitors, just drop in. We just haven’t ever done it, and so yesterday we were driving home and we passed the farm and I mentioned to my hubby about it, wondering what they’ll do with their hennies, and so he hit the brakes, turned around and pulled into their farm property.

Soon thereafter the man of the place came out and talked to my hubby (they’ve seen each other at the meat store before) and hubby motioned to me and the children to get out if we wanted to.

They were giving away their hens, and had at least 100 left. They’d already had someone take the green layers. 🙁

They have left some auracana/mix sorts that lay brown eggs, Rhode Island Reds and Black Stars, both also lay brown eggs.

Hubby and I will get 7 hens, the first two varieties, maybe 3 and 4 of each respectively. We weren’t prepared to get them last night when we were there, and won’t be able to get back there until Saturday.

Walking back to the vehicle hubby asked the man about some pens and the man is giving them to us. Well that is great. We need stuff for the new ones and want to build on that stuff with our old ones, reducing what pens we have to nearly nil, getting everyone together as best as can.

Once we get the stuff I’ll see about posting pictures on this blog. We’ll get the pens retro-fitted to do what we want and then build something to go with them.

Before we left hubby asked for the man’s “card” and he had to go inside to get one and said he had something for me too. He came back with a big tray of eggs, and was giving them to me, ‘layed the day before,’ he said. 2 1/2 dozen more eggs. We’ll sure use them and the ones we bought the other day as well.

Well the story of the farm is that they have run it for 3 years, bought the land as an investment, hoping to make something ($) on it eventually. The area is growing, it’s very country right now, but about to explode, firstly with a new 4 lane road, which is major expansion, and other things being built around there. Don’t know if he was approached or if he looked for a deal, but he’s getting out, a commercial something bought him, at least doubled his investment. He’s liquidating most everything, and that’s what happened for us, gaining things of value for no $. Nice, but we’ll miss the fact that the area in question is developing. It’s a sad thing.

So we’ll have some “new” hens that are laying, hopefully, soon. I’m hoping that my current hennies will get down to business sooner. The farm has roosters, and the ladies there are used to having a rooster, plus more, taking care of things. Sans rooster here, but my ladies haven’t a clue about roosters. The “new” ones might spread some tales, and I hope they’ll all be OK without a rooster, won’t carry on about it, if you know what I mean. :rolleyes: