Spring Chickens

Spring is one of the most beautiful and busiest times of year at Poplar Grove.  

Poplar Grove Henhouse with New Dawn roses

Jennings has been painting the stable, tending the new grapevines, mowing, pruning, planting, weeding, opening the pool, working in the garden, and best of all, welcoming the new chicks.

Here are the newest residents of Poplar Grove- residing under a warming lamp in a cardboard box in the laundry room.  The first time I saw them they were tiny and cute and fit in the palm of my hand.  Jennings said that the chicks grow amazingly fast.  This time when I saw them they were molting and getting their first feathers, so it is a bit of an awkward stage in chickenhood.  He laughs when he tells me that in no time they are able to hop up on the edge of the box and perch- that's when they go out to the hen house to live.

Jennings:  It's likely that these birds will be attractive, good tempered egg-layers.  Friendliness can vary in chickens, but generally, they can become very tame.

A great video with Martha Stewart about raising chickens.

Martha Stewart with a few of her chickens

NG:  Will these gals lay colored eggs?

Jennings:  We have Barred Rock hens which lay eggs which range in color from pale pinky-taupe to medium caramel-colored and pale brown.  The new chicks are Ameraucanas, which naturally lay a blue-ish egg. 

Find more information about raising chickens here.

Ewan McGregor

Find some creative chicken coops here.

Chef Jamie Oliver

NG:  Chickens are everywhere these days.  Why do you suppose raising chickens has caught on the way it has?

Jennings:  Foodies and people interested in organic, locally-sourced food have made raising chickens very popular again.  But I think even the average person has a desire to know where their food comes from.  We've all heard of the cruelty that factory-farmed chickens are exposed to- I think people increasingly don't want to be a part of that cycle.  It is easy and fun to raise healthier chickens at home, so why not?  Just be sure to check your local ordinances- and some neighbors might not be too happy living next door to a rooster.

Williams-Sonoma Agrarian

NG:  I never thought I'd see chicken coops at Williams-Sonoma.  (See Williams-Sonoma Agrarian chicken coops here.)

Jennings:  We have too many chickens for those, but they might be nice for a few hens.  If the coop can be moved around, chickens are great for taking care of pests in the lawn, but they do need to be protected from predators.  We are always on the lookout for foxes, hawks and stray dogs- it seems everyone loves chicken.

NG:  How long have you been raising chickens?

Jennings:  When I was 10 years old, I found two Rhode Island Reds roaming loose in the foothills around our home in Southern California.  I brought them home and have been raising chickens ever since.  My mother loved bright, white Leghorns.  One memory that still makes me laugh is of her cleaning them off with 409 and paper towels when they got muddy. 

   

Prince Charles and his prize winning hens

NG:  Any ideas for using fresh eggs?

Jennings:  We look for any excuse to use our fresh eggs.  This recipe is adapted from P. Allen Smith's fantastic recipe for Pineapple-Orange French Toast.  We keep bees, so I also like to add fresh honey when I can.  This is especially good during peach season with peach juice and fresh peaches on top.

Poplar Grove French Toast

6 Fresh Eggs

1 cup half and half

1/2 cup Pineapple-Orange Juice

1 Tablespoon Honey (Optional)

1 Teaspoon Grated Orange Zest

1/2 Teaspoon Kosher Salt

1/4 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon

1/4 Cup Sugar

1 Large Loaf of Challah or Brioche Bread

1/2 Stick Unsalted Butter

Melt the butter in a large jelly-roll pan.  Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a large bowl and sprinkle the mixture over the melted butter.  

In a large shallow bowl, whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, juice, honey, orange zest, and salt.  Dip the bread slices in the egg mixture, soaking them well, and arrange them on top of the butter-sugar mixture.

Bake for 20 minutes until lightly browned.  Lift out the slices and invert them onto serving plates.  Serve with good maple syrup or good raspberry preserves.

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