Radio Interview and Hen Laying Info

Interview with Nashville Public Radio from my parent's house

I had a very nice phone interview with Blake Farmer from Nashville Public Radio this morning. WPLN-FM 90.3 will broadcast the interview on Monday morning, July 14 during their newscast. http://wpln.org/home.php .

I just came from the home of an established Sewanee family who, once again, suggested there be a pro-chicken group outside the Lease Committee meeting next Wednesday at 3:30. The meeting takes place in Regent's Room. I don't know... what do you think?

Answers to more questions - Chicken Facts - laying eggs:

• Chickens lay eggs for about 3 years - more if they're pets - but they'll slow down as time goes on


• They usually won't lay until they're at least 6 months old
  
• During their most productive years, often they'll lay one egg per day in warm months
  
• A rooster is not necessary for a hen to lay an egg


• An egg can not hatch into a chicken without being fertilized by a rooster
  
• Some, but not all, breeds of chickens will go "broody" even without a rooster or eggs to sit on
  
• "Broody" means that a hen will "sit" for 21 days - ideally she is hatching eggs, but in the absence of fertilized eggs (or any eggs at all, for that matter) she will sit anyway - it's a hormonal thing
  
• A hen will not lay eggs while she is broody
  
• Many hens will not lay many eggs in the cold months when there is little daylight
  
• Some people install lights on timers to go on in the early morning to encourage egg production during the short days of winter


• Many hens molt, primarily in the fall, and will not lay eggs while they're molting
  
• "Molting" means losing older feathers and growing new ones. Different breeds molt at different rates.
  
• Different breeds of chickens produce eggs at different rates. Some will lay an egg a day - some not so much. Some chickens are bred to lay, lay, lay


• Depending on the breed of chicken, eggs come in many sizes and colors - pretty darn small to awfully big - white, brown, green, blue, teal - and I've even heard - pink!


• Fresh eggs are good at room temperature for several weeks (they cook better at room temp) and several months in the fridge.