Food security isn’t something that I worried about until COVID19 hit Canada. I’m part of the privileged few who went to Costco multiple times per month (or week) when I needed groceries.
And then, all of a sudden, I can’t go anymore without a lot of planning, patience, and some danger to my health and the health of my family.
I did the first big shop (no, I didn’t buy toilet paper), but perishable foods only last so long no matter how well you treat them.
But I know that we’ll be ok no matter how difficult the situation. Half our backyard hens are still laying eggs, and we’re collecting 4-6 fresh, organic eggs daily. The rest were going to start laying soon, and we’d be collecting 10-12 eggs daily!
Most People Don’t Know That Backyard Chickens Lay Eggs Daily
Chickens are typically divided into two categories – meat birds and egg layers. The breeds that are best known for egg-laying will lay an egg per day almost every day from spring to fall. They may also lay throughout the winter, but some do take a short break just before spring.
Hens will lay steadily for the first two years of life, and then slow down egg laying considerably as the years go on. I have hens that are four years old now, and I still get at least 3-5 eggs per week from each of them.
Is it Healthy to Eat A Lot of Eggs?
There has been a long-running debate on the nutritional value of eggs. Decades of intense research has proven a few things:
- Eggs are a complete source of protein, meaning that they contain all 9 essential amino acids necessary to produce protein in the body.
- Eggs are a rich source of 14 essential nutrients like vitamins A, D, E, folate, iron and zinc.
- Eggs are high in cholesterol BUT dietary cholesterol does not affect blood cholesterol or increase heart disease risk.
We eat eggs every single day. We have them for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They’re our quick snack and our go-to meal.
They’re a great diet food, and a fantastic beauty food both inside and out!
There are countless recipes for eggs available online for every meal and occasion. My family never tires of eating eggs, and as a mom I know that my kid’s nutritional needs are being met as long as eggs are available.
Which brings me back to my chickens.
How to Help Hens Lay Eggs Daily
Like I said above, hens will lay eggs almost daily on their own, but there are ways to support this process so that both the chickens and the eggs are as healthy as possible.
Backyard Chickens Need Good Nutrition to Lay Good Eggs
Hens really are what they eat! Laying eggs is really hard on a hen’s body. All vitamins and nutrients needed for egg production are taken from the hen’s body.
Imagine just the calcium needed to produce the eggshell itself!
If hens aren’t fed a diet that replenishes all those lost nutrients, the eggshells become weak, and the egg inside becomes less nutritious.
The hen itself will weaken and die.
This is why formulated egg layer pellet is critical. These pellets are created with everything vitamin and mineral the hen needs to stay healthy during egg production and produce the best eggs possible.
I purchase organic egg layer pellets to be extra sure my ladies get only what they need and nothing of what they don’t like pesticides and GMO grains.
I also feed my hens whole flax seeds to increase the omega-3 in their eggs.
And of course, I provide all kinds of greens and live foods. Most are from my own kitchen in the form of scraps and leftovers. Some I purchase on purpose for them like cabbage heads they love to peck at. And I take them to the park behind my house to let them eat all the grass and weeds they can. I also save the lawn clippings and dump the whole bag in their coop..they go CRAZY! Of course, only do this if you don’t spray pesticides on your lawn.
Eggshells are Perfect Calcium Supplements for Chickens!
Chickens instinctually know exactly what they need. They will seek out sources of calcium and other minerals if they’re body needs it.
I keep all eggs shells, bake them at 220 for 20 minutes, grind them up and provide a bowl of them to my ladies next to their food. From time to time, one hen or another will peck at the ground eggs shells, but they’re usually all gone within a week.
Backyard Chickens Provide Organic and Fresh Eggs Everyday
This may seem like a lot of work to produce a few eggs per day, but during a time like this, my having hens went from a hobby into a great way to be sure my family always has access to nutritious food no matter what.
This peace of mind is worth its weight in gold…or should I say in egg. After all, you won’t go far eating gold.
