Fresh Healthy Country Eggs

It’s a beautiful summer morning and I am on my way to take care of the chickens. The cool of the night is beginning to give way to the warmth of the day. I am moving the mobile chicken coop today so I’m driving out in the “Cub”. As I back up to the trailer hitch, I can hear them clucking and scratching about. It triggers in me the “stop and smell the roses” syndrome. I begin taking a few minutes to appreciate the beauty that surrounds me. As I look down the valley, I see cows grazing in the mist with the fog bank of the Duck River in the background. It reminds me of the reasons we are here. After hooking up, I start moving the coop across the way and verify the lack of “cow pies” in the area. After the cows have moved on to new paddocks the chickens begin their work. Their job is to eat bugs, that are harmful to the pasture, and disperse the nutrients that the cows leave behind in their manure. If the cow manure is left untouched it dries out and begins to lose it nutritional value. The chickens natural behavior is to walk up and scratch a cow pie to pieces. They love eating the bugs and fly larva that are contained in the manure. The scratching spreads the manure out to efficiently share its natural fertilizer with the pasture. Even if the chickens didn’t provide eggs for the farm, their contribution to the pasture alone would be worth the effort. This is essential for the continued sustainability cycle. This little task they do is an important link in that chain. I stop, unhook and level the coop. I unlatch the door and they immediately start down the ramp. I make sure the water is clean and full of the fresh natural spring water, fill the feeder with natural cracked corn and grain. I gather the eggs in Heidi's basket and place it in the Cub. When you are out there with them, you are drawn to watch them. They are so entertaining and relaxing. I can't help but think, "what a wonderful day"