Along the road we often take between Nobleboro and Bremen sits a house with an inviting sign.

We stopped and got to talking with the couple who live there, raising chickens, sheep and growing veggies. So many homes seem to do some version of this, including lobstering and selling massive mounds of firewood.

And yes, we have the answer to, “why did the chicken cross the road?” In this case it’s because the road cuts through the 20-plus acres and for some reason the owners put the chicken ranch across the road from the house. Mostly I think the reason is that the other hens and the rooster gang up on one and she needs to flee fast!

 

We learned that chickens can do a hard molt or a soft molt. Soft is losing and re-growing feathers a few at a time, while hard molt means they get bare-naked no feathers, feel very uncomfortable and need plenty of protein to get those new feathers re-grown quickly.

Cute chick, but we needed eggs and it’s been a long time since we’d eaten farm fresh eggs. The blue ones are laid by Aracaunas; they have noticeable feather tufts near their ears, and no tail.

These are all a solid orange; the Aracauna yolk is the deepest orange one at bottom right. Difference in taste? You bet. If you can get fresh eggs locally; do it.