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Showing posts with label cage-free eggs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cage-free eggs. Show all posts

Friday, July 26, 2013

Sticking with my Free-Range Chickens

The FDA Doesn't Want Chickens To Explore The Great Outdoors

Even with the new city roosters who can't tell time crowing at all hours of the day and night, I'm still sticking with my free-range birds. Since we have twelve hens in our yard, not three thousand, and have had hens presumably interacting with wild birds for some years and have yet to have an outbreak of salmonella, we must be doing something if not right, then at least okay.

I read somewhere that chickens have a natural carrying capacity of two thousand or so, and getting above that number often led to outbreaks of disease. I wish I could remember where it is I saw this statistic, but even if it isn't right, we should remember that typically chickens haven't lived in the crowded, confined conditions that we have asked them to adjust to over the last fifty years.

Rather than scratch our heads and point at wildlife for spreading disease, maybe we need to look more closely at traditional methods of raising poultry and apply that to the commercial industry. That's probably heresy akin to suggesting crop rotation to get rid of root worm in corn, god forbid we use traditional methods to solve a problem we can pour pesticide on, but it's Friday, and my baby just woke up, so that's the best suggestion I've got.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

The Incredible, Edible Egg

The STC made the most ridiculously delicious omelets on Sunday. Why we never added caramelized onions to omelets before is anyone's guess. Why I wasn't smart enough to take a picture is another. Why he's away overnight for work and thus unavailable for consultation as to his orgasmicly awesome omelet recipe is the fault of the Army. But let's not point fingers, let's just work with what we have.

First off, we spent probably 45 minutes caramelizing garden onions. The fridge needed a thorough going through and so most of that time was spent with the onions at a low simmer and us with knives flashing and vegetables flying and a lot of "eww, what do you suppose that was?" to one another.

Next, the STC sauteed green and red bell peppers and some raw white onion in with the caramelized. I can't speak as to his omelet technique, but I think a lot of it owes to our new pans, the Green-Life cookwear I've mentioned before. (Must add that I am not getting ANYTHING from the company for plugging their product, I merely think these pots and pans are the singularly most awesome thing I've ever had in any kitchen. Ever.)

So STC did the omelety thing to the egg (five farm eggs, no milk, no salt and pepper, no water, just wholesome farmy goodness), added the veg and some diced ham and cheese and the holy-I-think-I-just-jizzed-in-my-own-mouth-holy-awesomeness-batman-omelet was born.

We call it WTF good for short.

Was it the egg, the onions, the phase of the moon? I have no idea. But I intend to force the beloved father of my children to repeat this recipe over and over until I unlock it's secrets. Or until we're sick of omelets, whichever occurs first. Until next time, keep it sunny side up. :)

Monday, July 1, 2013

Cage-Free

What The Rise Of Cage-Free Eggs Means For Chickens

The jury, or rather Michigan State University researchers, is still out on this one, but definitely an interesting move for the industry. Again, the persistent question, is it a better product and agricultural method or is merely our perception of it better? Remains to be seen.