Planning for Happy Hens & Fresh Eggs

Spring is coming, which means it's almost time for the baby birds to arrive at our local hardware store!  We are excited to be raising a roost, so we put our order in early. We picked out some of the best layers they had to offer. They will arrive just after hatching and we'll raise them by hand and heat lamp until they are ready to go outside and move into their new coop! 

Here's a desciption of the hens (and ducks) who will be living on the farm and contributing to the fresh breakfast menu items we offer at the B&B!

Rhode Island Reds - This is one of the most famous and all time popular breeds of truly American chickens. Developed in the early part of this century in the state of the same name, they have maintained their reputation as a dual purpose fowl through the years. Outstanding for production qualities, they have led the contests for brown egg layers time after time. No other heavy breed lays more or better eggs than the Rhode Island Reds. Our "production" strain is keeping up the fine reputation of this old favorite. Baby chicks are a rusty red color and the mature birds are a variety of mahogany red. (Murray McMurray Hatchery, The World’s Rare Breed Poultry Headquarters)

Golden Laced Wyandottes - The “ancestors” of Golden Laced Wyandottes originated in Wisconsin and were called Winnebagoes. By 1880 they received their present-day name. This variety is a beautiful combination of rich golden bay laced with lustrous greenish black. The general feather pattern is very similar to the Silver Laced Wyandottes. A beautiful bird for exhibition. (Murray McMurray Hatchery, The World’s Rare Breed Poultry Headquarters)

Silver Laced Wyandottes - The Silver Laced is the original Wyandotte and the other varieties were developed from it later with crosses on other breeds. It is an outstanding example of American poultry breeding ingenuity and is one of the most beautiful breeds we offer. It is colorful, hardy, and productive. The broad feathered, smooth fitting plumage is sharply marked. The general appearance is silvery white and lustrous greenish black as each feather is edged in a contrasting color. The close-fitting rose comb and good body size are valuable assets for winter laying. Cold weather doesn't seem to bother them at all as their hardiness and vigor keep them laying straight through the winter. They lay a nicely shaped, good sized egg, varying from light to rich brown and will set some. This is another excellent variety for exhibition. Baby chicks vary from almost black to light silvery gray and many have contrasting light and dark stripes on the back. (Murray McMurray Hatchery, The World’s Rare Breed Poultry Headquarters)

Araucanas - This unusual breed gets in name from the Indian tribe of Chile where they were first discovered.  Our chicks have some Araucana and some Ameraucana blood mixed and consequently are not for show but are beautiful chickens known for their ability to lay colored eggs of shades varying from turquoise to deep olive to shades of brown.  Each bird will typically lay a different shade of colored egg that will amaze your friends and make a wonderful "show and tell" type project for school.  Adults are of medium size with pea combs and our breeding stock are selected for their ability to produce colored eggs.  They exhibit a wonderful combination of colors and color patterns and 10 or 20 of these birds will make an absolutely beautiful laying flock that is extremely hardy and will be the talk of the town.  Baby chicks come in all colors, plain and fancy, just like the adults.  This is a unique breed and great fun to have when the colored eggs start coming.  (Murray McMurray Hatchery, The World’s Rare Breed Poultry Headquarters)

Golden Cornets - The Comet has been widely acclaimed in all areas of the world where brown eggs are preferred. The reason is simple. The Comet pullet is easily one of the finest brown egg layers available today. They mature early and lay eggs of excellent size and quality. She is an extremely quiet bird, that seems to be able to withstand the colder, non-insulated, laying houses of the small flock owner, better than most breeds. The Comet is a buff sex-link strain. The chicks may be sexed by color, pullets red-roosters white. When mature, the  Comet pullet is golden red in color, but has some white showing through in her neck and back. (Mt. Healthy Hatcheries)

Pekin Ducks - Originating in China in ancient times, White Pekins were brought to the Western World in the middle 1800’s. Their fine meat quality and egg laying ability quickly made them the first choice of American duck growers. Both the male and female are creamy white in color, yellow skinned, and very large breasted. The males carry a fall weight of 10 to 11 pounds and the females weigh 8 to 9 pounds. They are the easiest domestic ducks to pick and prepare for eating. (Murray McMurray Hatchery, The World’s Rare Breed Poultry Headquarters)

We look forward to sharing updates about our little brood's progress. We expect them to arrive in early May. It will take a little while for them to adjust and be ready to lay fresh eggs but we'll be happy to prepare some new breakfast recipes with eggs to keep the farm flavors fresh and local. 

- Luke & Carin McCarthy

Winter in Vermont: For the Birds

In the winter season, we put out bird feeders to help our feathered-friends weather through the wind and cold. With snow covering the ground, it can be challenging for New England birds to find adequate food in the winter, causing them to travel further while also requiring them to store up energy to keep warm.

Luke comes from a long line of bird watchers and when his Dad passed away last year, he left us a number of bird feeders. We've put them just outside the dining room, so our guests can enjoy the view and watch the visitors during breakfast. With this, feeding the birds has become a sort of honored communion and it’s something he puts extra care into.

Our dog Stout, checking out our guests at the birdfeeders.

With the relatively mild winter this year, our birds are getting a little extra fluffy with all of the delicious breakfast seeds they get from us. With the frequency of their visits to our birdfeeders, you might even say they are eating us out of house and home.

On the B&B menu for the birds; we serve up a mixture of suet and seeds, including sunflower, safflower, and thistle seed. With its popularity amongst the guests, Luke refills the sunflower seeds just about every other day.  The diverse variety of food, feeder shapes and fixtures attracts a wide variety of travelers who fly in to visit.

Of the birds that stick around the central Vermont mountains in the winter, we have a healthy flock of chickadees, blue jays, and cardinals. From time to time, we also see a red-bellied woodpecker, with his red tufted head, who seems particularly attracted to the suet mixture. Mourning doves, nut hatches and hermit thrushes are also frequent fliers here. 

This year, we were visited by volunteer leaders of the Christmas bird count, who excitedly reported that they had seen a Northern Shrike on our property. This rare species is the only carnivorous songbird. Unlike our other feathered guests, they frequent the birdfeeders in the hopes of dining upon a succulent little birdie. While we haven’t found any evidence of their feasting, we are excited to provide a healthy habitat for birds in our area. For those who are interested in participating, there’s another backyard bird count coming up on Valentine’s day weekend.

We have a lot to learn from our quiet neighbors and we’re excited to discover new species of birds and wildlife right in our backyard. We’re lucky to have the Green Mountain Audubon Center of Vermont location just a few miles away, in Huntington, VT. We suggest that our Bed and Breakfast guests visit and learn about the plants and animals that are native to central Vermont and check the Cornell Lab or Ornithology for guides of the birds of Vermont.

On our website, we list a map of great Vermont birdwatching sites. There are many rare species that can be found in the Green Mountains. Nature lovers may also enjoy taking some walks on suggested trails in birding territory.

Guests will note, our B&B is decorated with many hand-carved wooden birds that Luke’s Grandfather Bill “Bumpa” McCarthy made. Some even have Luke’s childhood handwriting on them, as they made them together in his woodshop.

We’re excited to continue the legacy of care that Luke’s Father and Grandfather have shown to their feathered neighbors and provide the birds the best food we can offer all winter long. We do have to be careful to pull the birdfeeders in before the spring thaw, or we’ll have bears coming by for breakfast!

  - Carin McCarthy