🍳 Eggs, Chores, and Early Mornings

A Saturday Start

This Saturday began under a soft overcast sky. Warm air still lingered from yesterday, but a cool south breeze cut just enough of the weight to make it comfortable. The first sounds of the day were the songbirds calling down from the oaks, squirrels rustling in the branches overhead, and Joe—our ever-busy rooster—letting the whole farm know he was awake long before the sun finished rising.

I spent the early morning posted out in the field, deer hunting in the quiet while the farm stretched itself awake. It was the kind of morning where nothing rushes, yet everything moves.

Rhythm of the Coop

Winter always brings a natural slowdown in egg production. The hens have earned their rest—after the heat of summer, molting, and keeping steady through Texas weather, this is their season to recover. Thankfully, we still average far more eggs than we can eat, so sales continue and the fridge stays full.

Their feed shifts this time of year:
• Cracked corn for warmth
• Sunflower seeds for protein
• A balanced ration based on guidance from Jeff Maddox, who has been a wealth of knowledge in poultry nutrition

We don't free-feed. Instead, we refresh feed about four hours before sundown. That last little push keeps them warm through the night and prevents overeating.

Morning chores stay almost the same:
• Kids check water troughs
• One of them waters the garden
• I walk the property or slip out to the field
• Egg collections wait for the afternoon

Predators are a concern this year—coyotes especially—but the Premier One electric fencing and the constant noise from the rescue dogs keep things in check. We think one hen might be cracking a stray egg from time to time, but nothing consistent enough to call a real issue.

My favorite part of chicken chores happens right after feeding: sitting on a cinder block in the shade, watching the flock do their goofy dances, arguments, and explorations. They're simple, curious little creatures… and for a few minutes each day, they pull me into that simplicity too.

The Kids and the Coop

This week the kids helped in their own ways—some intentional, some not.

• Elijah was dependable as always, quick to jump up and feed the chickens.
• Lila followed behind him to collect eggs with careful little hands.
• Grayson and Kira discovered two cardboard boxes and turned them into “Ford Broncos,” complete with imaginary steering wheels and engine noises.

Eli and Lila are learning gentleness—how calm energy keeps Joe the Rooster from getting too possessive and how patience makes the coop less chaotic. It’s a little victory every time they walk in without fear.

Our funniest chicken moment wasn’t from this week but last:
We introduced three new pullets into the main flock. They hid in their tiny run for half the morning—until the goldies marched right inside, stole every last crumb of scratch, and “invited” them out. Suddenly everyone was mingling like they’d been neighbors for years. That first awkward day always makes me laugh.

The moment that made me proud?
The two roosters didn’t fight—not once. And the guineas (who usually think they own the whole farm) kept mostly to themselves. Small victories matter.

Chicks, Scaling Up, and Coop Improvements

We set 18 eggs in the incubators this round and hatched 12 healthy chicks—much better than I expected, given the temperature swings and doubts I had during incubation. They’re growing fast, and in the next couple weeks they’ll move into one of the brooder pens outside.

For spring 2026, we plan to raise around 30 more pullets, using both incubators and aiming high while expecting a realistic hatch rate.

Recent improvements:
• Expanded Premier One fencing for the main flock
• Plans for additional chicken tractors
• Working out a system for temporary “garden runs” so chickens can fertilize fallow beds
• Starting layout for rotational fencing near the garden

My biggest worry about expanding egg production?
Finding consistent customers.
Eggs are cheap in stores right now, and small farms have to work harder to explain the value of real, healthy eggs. But we'll keep showing up, telling our story, and letting the quality speak for itself.

As far as breeds, I’m trying to be smart. I’d love a consistent, standardized breed, but for now, we're working with good stock. Joe is shaping up to be an excellent sire, and while our hens are strong layers, I’m still hoping to improve certain traits as we build our line.

Faith and Daily Bread

This week, a handful of scriptures kept coming to mind:

• Philippians 4:6–7 – “Do not be anxious…”
• Matthew 11:28 – “Come to me, all who are weary…”
• Proverbs 3:5 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart…”
• Isaiah 55:12 – “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace…”

These verses steadied me throughout the week. Not because chickens teach faith, but because everything teaches faith when you pay close attention.

Was there a moment where the ordinary felt holy?
Yes: harvesting my first buck of the season. Knowing our freezer is stocked and my family is provided for grounded me in gratitude. Watching a healthy flock, a growing garden, and a steady household—those things quiet a restless mind.

How do I teach the kids that faith grows in small works, too?
Through simple conversations. Last week’s blog questions with the kids sparked a bigger talk about God’s provision—songbirds, breezes, deer in the field. Small things that aren’t coincidences. Moments made just for us, whether we realize it or not.

Closing Reflections

What reminded me that what I’m doing matters?
It wasn’t a project or a success.
It was sitting with my kids while they told me their perspective on the land—what they see, what they imagine, how they think it should look. Being part of their growth feels bigger than any garden bed or chicken tractor.

What do I hope next week brings?
Health, happiness, and steadiness. I hope we keep growing together—working the land, sharing meals, going to church, and taking the moments as they come.

If I summed up this week in one image, it would be this:
The sunrise behind me, a buck standing still in the tall grass, the breeze moving slowly across the field, and Joe crowing somewhere behind it all.
Quiet before the day begins. Peace before the hustle.