We currently have 20 laying hens, 2 roosters (because one always needs a spare cock), 2 helmeted guinea hens, and 2 helmeted guinea cocks.
We now have a fenced in area for the fowl, so we can find all the eggs they lay and keep accurate records. Every time we purchase a new bag of chicken feed, we start a new column of eggs collected daily. Below you can see the results of 5 sacks of 50kg chicken feed. We average between 10 to 20 eggs daily.
The chickens seem to enjoy their habitat and use the laying boxes as well as the fodder crops to hide their eggs. Below is a clutch of eggs hidden inside the Perennial Kale crop.
We planted Tagasaste and Kale for them to eat and to provide shade during the hot summer months.
Both crops provide a high protein seed and leaf combination that is ideal for fowl consumption.
We also planted White Mulberry trees, which produce a protein rich fruit for the fowl to enjoy.
Inside the fowl pen we have limes, oranges and strawberry guava trees. The fowl like to roost in the trees at night and only eat the wind fall guava. They keep the trees free of parasites with their constant insect hunting.
Our goal is to produce 100% of their feed on site and not have to rely on buying feed from the shop.
Every year the cost per egg drops as we provide more fodder for the fowl to consume. Now we are able to have eggs year round at 30% of the cost of buying them in the shops. And of course, with the satisfaction of knowing the chickens have a great life full of sunshine and fresh air and dust baths.
We are able to cut our costs of buying other high protein foods for our family and friends by incorporating eggs into all of our meals.
Eggs are VERY healthy and guilt free source of protein and many other vitamins and minerals.
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