We have some Rhode Rock, Speckledy, Bluebell and Silver Sussex which will hopefully give us a good mix of strong layers and interesting eggs. They should start to lay between 18 and 22 weeks so we have a bit of time to get them used to us and being handled before we put them to work. So far they are settling in well and are behaving themselves. They are very cute with their dinosaur-like gait and baby noises and our students are excited to get to know them.
We haven’t forgotten our Old Girls or “OG’s” as the students have taken to calling them. They are happily retired to the orchard where they can live out their days without the pressure of producing eggs for sale. As ex commercial layers these girls have done their bit. We had a year and a half of regular laying before things slowed down last winter and never really picked up again.
Our hens (and their eggs) are part of our student initiative producing and selling products to give students real world work experience. We use all aspects of our work in the garden including looking after the hens, collecting, processing and then selling the eggs to teach valuable life and work skills.
