I've mentioned before that we have a free-range flock of hens, and wow, do the dogs love fresh scrambled eggs! I took this photo on a recent evening, just before getting ready to scramble up the 109 -- yes, I counted 'em up as I washed them -- eggs you see on the counter.
(In the background: the blender is what we use for Travis's food; the food processor is for the veggies we chop up for them; the toaster is for us; and the coffee maker is for Widget, who prefers either Colombian or Ethiopian, but occasionally will enjoy a stiff cup of Sumatran. Just kidding.)
As you can imagine, it takes a while to wash, break open, mix and then cook that many eggs, but watching the dogs relish them makes it well worth the time. Our biggest problem is just finding big enough bowls to mix them up in and pans to cook them in. Sometimes we use two large frying pans, other times I use a big stock pot. Here's just that one colander worth of eggs, ready to be beaten:
Here's a view of the portable "eggmobile" from this past fall:
It's built on an old trailer chassis and is on tires, so we can hook it up to the tractor and pull it wherever we want to take it. In Montana we used to move it around the pastures every week following the cows as we rotationally grazed them -- the chickens break open the cow pies to get at the fly larvae and other bugs they like to eat, and in the process they scatter the cow dung and work it into the soil for us. Here at the farm in New Hampshire we don't have that kind of level ground, and the predator pressure is actually greater here (because we have the woods all around us), so for now we found it's better to leave the eggmobile in this one large, safely fenced paddock.
Our hens are Delawares and Barred Plymouth Rocks, both heritage breeds and very nice birds. Currently we have about 30 girls -- the Delawares are older and starting to slow down egg production, and the Barred Rocks are in their first year of laying and starting to really get into the swing of things. We get on average 20 to 22 eggs a day right now, which will go up further when we get to spring. We have one Barred Rock rooster with the hens, because we want to be able to hatch out our own chicks this summer.
Now, someone will inevitably ask about cholestrol issues in feeding eggs. Dogs do not have cholesterol problems like people do. And in fact, eggs have been unfairly blamed for cholesterol issues in people anyway. For an excellent book on how eating healthy "real food" -- like free-range, pasture-based eggs -- is good for you, see Nina Planck's "Real Food: What To Eat and Why."
Meanwhile, I have to head to the kitchen. I have some eggs to wash.
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The new Shelter Challenge started Monday, January 9 and ends at midnight on March 18. Grand prize in this round is $5,000, plus $1,000 for weekly winners and $1,000 for state winners. There are also other categories ... please see the Shelter Challenge website for details.
*** Okay, this is important, folks: We are now LISTED UNDER OUR NEW NAME, ROLLING DOG FARM. State is still NH for New Hampshire. ***
Please remember, you can vote every day ... consider bookmarking the voting page to make it easy.
We won $1,000 as a weekly winner in the last contest, and thousands more in the previous contests. The Shelter Challenge really does bring in a lot of money for the animals here!
Beginning on Monday, you can vote in the Shelter Challenge here.
Brunch! Those fuzzy kids have a good life!!!
Posted by: Penny | January 13, 2012 at 12:27 PM
Fantastic! I think it's great your dogs and your hens get to eat stuff they evolved to eat. Better for everyone! I'll bet they're super tasy eggs, too.
By the way, I'd recommend Michael Pollan's "The Omnivore's Dilemma" any day over Nina Planck's book. He really did his research and has reputable citations for all his claims.
Posted by: Alexandra | January 13, 2012 at 10:59 AM
Actually, I'd like to ask the inevitable question of what will you do when the hens stop laying? Will the dogs be eating Chicken? ;)
Posted by: Kelly | January 13, 2012 at 01:27 AM
Mmmmm ~ ~ ~ "What's for supper?"
Posted by: Lisa K. - San Diego | January 12, 2012 at 06:17 PM
VOTE VOTE VOTE, practice for this coming November by voting now for
RDF!! Let's make this the winning year for all our favorite animals.
Posted by: Anne in FL | January 12, 2012 at 09:01 AM
Zoe-doggie LOVES 'eggies'. Even tho she has recently lost all hearing she always knows when I am making eggies and she knows some will be for her! She especially likes a touch of cheese it them or grated carrots!!
Hugs to all your heritage girls, they are hard workers livin' the good life at Rolling Egg Farm ;)
Posted by: Anne in FL | January 12, 2012 at 08:52 AM
My Black Lab, Sadie, loves scrambled eggs. My Barred Rocks and Buff Orphingtons supply us enough for 3 people and Sadie. You and Alayne are amazing, God Bless you.
Posted by: Diana K | January 12, 2012 at 08:16 AM
I love this blog too! It's so enjoyable to read. Your dedication is amazing and inspiring. My dog loves scrambled eggs as well as vegetables and apples. Do you ever let the dogs have raw eggs? I have read conflicting reports on this. What other food do you feed the dogs?
Posted by: Catherine | January 12, 2012 at 05:25 AM
Wow, you could probably invite the entire town of Lancaster over for some breakfast and still have eggs left over! And I agree with you that eggs are healthy for the dogs and for people.
I so enjoy reading the blogs and seeing all the different aspects of what goes on daily at RDF. I'm sure you have a line of very happy dogs waiting every morning :)
Feel free to FedEx some of those beautiful free range eggs down to me!
Posted by: Ann | January 12, 2012 at 01:45 AM
You two go to any lengths for the doggies. Love it!
We ONLY buy our eggs from the same type of source---what a difference in how they taste and I can eat them happily knowing they were not treated in the Factory Farming manner!
Posted by: Shirley * James/Portland, OR | January 11, 2012 at 09:10 PM
What a grand informative post, Steve! I love how you are being a wise user of the animals and the property to "do the right things". My hat is off to you & Alayne for so many countless reasons, but you can add this to the endless list! I remember my grandmother had the Deleware Barred hens, but at the time, didn't know what they were.
Warm hugs to you & yours,
ginger, Tobias & Tlingit
Posted by: ginger | January 11, 2012 at 05:33 PM
Sigh...I really enjoy reading this blog! Dedicated people supporting their passions. On my bucket list is a visit to RDF. I will bring the Sumatran and hope to share a cup with Widget and my puppy crush THE DEX MAN.
Posted by: Mary H. | January 11, 2012 at 04:30 PM
That is a lot of eggs! My dogs have always loved eggs - and I agree, they are good for them!
Posted by: Donna | January 11, 2012 at 04:03 PM