tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27657248747449702182024-03-13T13:14:39.706-07:00My Little Sister's FarmA blog about happy, healthy, spoiled chickens and the farm they live on.Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339567525572290652noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765724874744970218.post-88934496057732510522012-02-14T15:07:00.000-08:002012-02-14T15:07:00.141-08:00Happy Valentine's DayPip, our Mastiff, and Baby Girl, our mini doxie, get more presents than we do from my in-laws. I can't believe they gave our pets presents for Valentine's! I guess they really like our pups, nothin' wrong with that. :)Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339567525572290652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765724874744970218.post-1138575978890659862012-01-02T07:05:00.000-08:002012-01-02T07:05:00.522-08:00Today is my birthday :)Today is my birthday. I don't think I'm getting any poultry but hubby is warming up to me ordering chicks from a breed preservation company. Fingers crossed I get my Exchec Leghorns this spring!!!Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339567525572290652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765724874744970218.post-49329117834012924732011-12-31T13:04:00.000-08:002011-12-31T13:04:01.467-08:00Happy New Year!!!May your nest boxes be filled with eggs and your backyard or barnyard filled with beautiful and spunky poultry. And may your coop be self-cleaning in the new year.<br /><br />Happy New Year,<br /><br />Natalie<br />My Little Sister's FarmNataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339567525572290652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765724874744970218.post-77250142484825859072011-12-24T16:02:00.000-08:002011-12-24T16:02:00.211-08:00Happy Christmas!!!Happy and Merry to you all!!! Our holiday season has been merry and bright, I hope yours has as well. Not a whole lot to report, the chickens are slowing their egg laying and the ducks are happily puddle splashing by day and cozy in the coop at night. Some of the buffalo cows are starting to show their baby bumps so we know spring can't be too far away.<br /><br />Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!!!Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339567525572290652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765724874744970218.post-73965988758955040822011-12-07T10:44:00.000-08:002011-12-07T10:44:00.334-08:00A boy named Peggy?I think we have a drake in the bunch! One of the ducklings looks like a boy. We can't give him a complex by continuing to call him Peggy. Since his given name is Pegasus I think we'll call him Gus. I better not end up with to many Gus' though...Roast Gus sounds tasty. ;)Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339567525572290652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765724874744970218.post-51941413500385240192011-11-24T15:00:00.000-08:002011-11-24T15:00:00.415-08:00Happy Turkey Day!!!Happy Thanksgiving all!!! I hope there is a beautiful bird on your table ready to celebrate with your family. We'll be having one of our turkeys and bison, another family raised animal. I will try to post a picture of our table's spread at www.facebook.com/lilsisfarm.<br /><br />Gobble, gobble!!!Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339567525572290652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765724874744970218.post-9604591014433485592011-11-21T08:47:00.000-08:002011-11-21T08:47:00.388-08:00It's so quiet!!!It's so quiet in the coop this morning without all the turkeys. Thought I would miss them, just a little...nope!Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339567525572290652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765724874744970218.post-59466310286602601492011-11-19T17:58:00.000-08:002011-11-19T17:58:00.196-08:00Turkey Processing Day Has ArrivedAh, tomorrow there will be no more gobbling on the farm. All of the turkeys will be on their ways to new homes to be placed in the oven in just a few days. Oh the silence...Oh wait, there are still ducklings in my garage! The gobbles may be gone but the quacking won't stop...Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339567525572290652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765724874744970218.post-33481400195290075782011-11-06T09:36:00.000-08:002011-11-06T09:36:00.639-08:00Turkeys, turkeys everywhere!!!Oh my gosh! The turkeys got out of the pen today. I couldn't believe how far they got before we got up this morning. There were a few in the coop, a few in the barn, poo on a tractor, poo on a wood pile. They did help clean up some of the unripe tomatoes still in the garden, yes found poo there too. Oh well, they'll be gone soon! Right?!?!?!Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339567525572290652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765724874744970218.post-87303209859807569862011-10-27T10:39:00.000-07:002011-10-27T10:39:00.606-07:00The Ducklings Get their NameAt My Little Sister's Farm we like to name our animals. We don't name them each something different, how can you tell the difference between 60 yellow baby turkeys??? So we name the turkeys all one name, Frank. The Ameraurcana hens became Henrietta, Henny, and the Barred Rocks were names Penelope, Penny.<br /><br />Naming the ducks was a bit harder for me. I don't know why but I didn't want to be too cliche. Daisy seemed like the best choice for a while but we finally decided on Peggie. We named them all Pegasus but like the Hennys and the Pennys we thought a good old fashioned nick name seemed ideal. So we have 25 little Peggys in our garage. I think they acually quack more now that we've named them. Oy!Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339567525572290652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765724874744970218.post-57490823821604957002011-10-24T14:53:00.000-07:002011-10-24T14:53:00.319-07:00The Ducklings are Here!!!The ducklings have hatched. They are so cute. They are "white layers" but right now they are yellow!!! Come next spring we should have a good 20-25 laying duck hens to fill those duck orders. One of the local restaurants in Forest Grove hopes to use our eggs regularly for their pasta. The head chef said he loves the texture and mouthfeel of pasta noodles made with duck eggs over chicken eggs. I'll have to try that one.<br /><br />check out pics of the ducklings soon on facebook: www.facebook.com/lilsisfarmNataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339567525572290652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765724874744970218.post-11007243186156474942011-10-22T06:46:00.000-07:002011-10-22T06:46:00.280-07:00On our way to the SwapWe're about to leave for the Oregon Poultry Swap in Corvallis. Hope to meet lots of other local Poultry Peeps there.Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339567525572290652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765724874744970218.post-32661467143489739402011-10-12T13:51:00.000-07:002011-10-12T13:51:00.302-07:00Ducklings!!!The Forest Grove Farmer's Market is comingto a close and our conculsion from the sales this year is MORE DUCK EGGS!!! I can't believe how many people have asked for our duck eggs each week. We could probably have sold 10 dozen in a week when our hens were only laying 1 dozen. Our ducklings hatch on the 24th of this month and should be laying just in time for the Forest Grove Farmer's Market 2012.<br /><br />Follow us of facebook to see pics and update about the ducklings and much much more.<br /><br />www.facebook.com/lilsisfarmNataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339567525572290652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765724874744970218.post-43910609460618125112011-10-07T10:46:00.001-07:002011-10-07T10:46:51.072-07:00Oregon Poultry Swap!!!www.oregonpoultryswap.com<br /><br />We're going to be going to the OR Poultry Swap at teh Benton County Fair Grounds in Corvallis on 10/22. Hope to see some other poultry peeps there!!!Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339567525572290652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765724874744970218.post-65297887842319835802011-10-06T14:42:00.000-07:002011-10-06T15:09:26.008-07:00Long Time, No TypingI am so sorry all, I am a bad blogger. When everything gets super busy I seem to disappear from the computer. Although things aren't slowing down that much I will try to keep you posted more with what is going on down on the farm.Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339567525572290652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765724874744970218.post-37948727692463018672011-03-09T19:16:00.000-08:002011-03-09T19:16:00.420-08:00Meet the Farm Dog - Pip<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KgHdFciRiDQ/TWXOhXhgnbI/AAAAAAAAAFE/eR5iHJbMInU/s1600/028.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KgHdFciRiDQ/TWXOhXhgnbI/AAAAAAAAAFE/eR5iHJbMInU/s320/028.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577090786213797298" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CXaxO4isvrc/TWXNzKVuqTI/AAAAAAAAAEs/8ktuMX2ecHM/s1600/IMG_1890.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CXaxO4isvrc/TWXNzKVuqTI/AAAAAAAAAEs/8ktuMX2ecHM/s320/IMG_1890.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577089992400742706" /></a><br /><br />Pip, full name Pretty in Pink, a 5 year old rescue fawn English Mastiff with a big bark and a bigger heart. Though she is s true snuggle-bug, she is known by most as the buffalo watch dog. She doesn’t let anyone pass our gates without a warning bark, or ten. But once you’ve introduced yourself, she wants to play with you, not bite. Pippy, as we commonly refer to her, is very protective of her people and home, but is easily distracted by a fleece blanket or treat.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p1udWmnOpdA/TWXON3c_9-I/AAAAAAAAAE0/0PBKCgTMlGA/s1600/029.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p1udWmnOpdA/TWXON3c_9-I/AAAAAAAAAE0/0PBKCgTMlGA/s320/029.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577090451187431394" /></a>Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339567525572290652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765724874744970218.post-71530610456700690142011-03-03T19:14:00.000-08:002011-03-03T19:14:00.159-08:00PCC Backyard Chicken Raising ClassesNatalie will be teaching a Backyard Chicken series for PCC this coming spring term. PCC is teaming up with Farmington Gardens to host my class for 40 people wanting to learn more about selecting and raising chickens in urban areas. Registration should be open now on PCC’s website. PCC offers a lot of different community oriented courses like canning, computers, and even hula hooping. How fantastic is that! Please check out PCC’s website www.pcc.edu for more information on classes in your area.Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339567525572290652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765724874744970218.post-3782592796801809232011-02-28T19:10:00.000-08:002011-02-28T19:10:00.465-08:00The Hennys and the PennysSo My Little Sister’s Farm does something a bit different than most farms. Well, we do a lot of things different but one thing we do is raise chicks starting in the winter. We started our Barred Plymouth Rocks and Ameraucana chicks in December. December 1st 100 little ladies were hatched and delivered to us by a local company called OR Peeps. I love chicks! We don’t usually buy chicks, but we had so many older hens, we needed an infusion of new blood. They are now over 3 months old. They are sassy girls too, well 2 are boys but they have quite the 'tude too. <br /><br />I’m not one for naming individual birds as many hens of the same breed will look like one another their entire lives. But I feel chickens should have a name. After all, they are much smarter than dogs and cats, though don’t hold grudges like my cat tends to. We named all of the turkeys “Frank” last year and that worked well. I decided the Barred Rocks would be called Henrietta and the Ameraucanas would be called Penelope. Yup, we went with Henny and Penny. I guess naming them makes two things we do a little differently. And just in case you’re left wondering, the turkeys will again be named Frank, but the broilers…we’ll have to get to know them first.Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339567525572290652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765724874744970218.post-19588643300523104882011-02-23T19:03:00.000-08:002011-02-23T19:10:16.950-08:00A Belated Happy New YearWow! It has taken me so long to get back to the blog. You'd think a farm would be slow in the winter but some how we manage to be short on time year round. Let me try to catch you up as quickly as I can...<br /><br />Our chicks are getting super big now. We started chicks in December this year and they should start laying in May, just in time for the farmer's markets. We have decided to continue with the Forest Grove FM but also add the Astoria FM (if our application is accepted in the next few weeks anyway). Oh and the ducks are laying, more than usual for this time of year, the ground hog must be right.<br /><br />So many changes are taking place this year. First we’re expanding our “product line” to include produce at the Forest Grove Farmer’s Market. We’ve always planted some type of garden in hopes of being able to can and have our own produce year round. The weather in Oregon has been hit or miss for the past few years, and so have my gardening skills. If someone tells you weeding is fun she’s never been chased out of her own garden by a garter snake – they’ll getcha ya know. But with the help of the owners of Astoria Indoor Garden Supply, well composted chicken manure and my library card, I feel well equipped for the adventure 2011 brings. <br /><br />We’ve ordered 10 bare root Persimmon trees (sticks really, they are quite small to start), and 25 grape vines, I’m so excited but know it will be at least 1.5 years before we get any real crop off of the grapes any maybe 3 years on the trees. Patience is not my best quality. I’m good at growing beans but hey, who isn’t. I’m hoping with some luck and a bit of luck and a bit of sunshine I’ll be able to grow a little of everything from eggplant to Brussels sprouts. <br /><br />We’re also going to start slowly raising broiler chickens the way we did turkeys this year. We’ll be raising 100 meat chickens this spring and we’ll begin accepting pre-orders in March. Don’t worry, if you’re reading this, you are the first to know and the first opportunity to reserve your chickens will be through the newsletter and blog (a little bribe to keep you reading right?). The broilers will be processed starting in June. More details to come.Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339567525572290652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765724874744970218.post-1829861437658395682010-11-28T08:18:00.000-08:002010-11-28T08:18:00.485-08:00So much to be thankful for!!!As 2010 slowly slips into the position of "last year" I want to take a moment to thank all of our farm's "followers", "fans" and customers. I feel so blessed to be raising our animals every day. Here is a top 10 list for what I am thankful for in 2010.<br /><br />10. Backyardchicken.com - a great website for getting advice and support. I also find many chicken craft enthusiasts to talk to. Who thought there was more than 1 chicken craft enthusiast out there.<br /><br />9. Pumpkin pie - for as much as I love this pie I don't make it but once or twice a year. ***Note to self - 2011 NY resolution - make more pumpkin pie!***<br /><br />8. Turkeys - I can't believe how many people I met because I raised their Thanksgiving / Holiday turkey. This is just the beginning of our turkey adventures. Plus the animals themselves are smart and funny to be around. They make me smile on my worst days.<br /><br />7. Fabric/Craft stores - to feed my chicken craft enthusiasm.<br /><br />6. Oregon Peeps hatchery in Estacada, Oregon. A small farmer in his own right, Pete is doing a great job of supplying mine and many other small local farms with high quality chicks and poults at reasonable prices.<br /><br />5.Chickens - well of course they are in the top 5! I love me some chickens :)<br /><br />4. My 3 amazing pets - Pip, a 5 year old mastiff, adopted from Mastiff Rescue Oregon, she was a rescue from a neglectful situation but you'd never know to look at her now; Baby Girl, now 1 year old, mini doxie that was also rescued from neglect; and Marechal Foch, our cat that is so fat from never being neglected by us that leads you to believe she doesn't need your love until you touch her, then she's a motorboat. (You can find Pip and Baby Girl on Facebook too)<br /><br />3. My country - regardless of our personal political views, we're all allowed to express them (in non-violent ways of course). I appreciate that I live in a country that wakes up everyday and says, "I can be better!"<br /><br />2.Family and friends - this has been a stressful year for so many people in my life. I am grateful for their health and hope that 2011 brings more and better opportunities to all.<br /><br />1. God for making #2-9 of this list and for sharing the world and Her grace with me.<br /><br />May you have much to be thankful for this holiday season.<br /><br />Thank you for your continued support!<br /><br />God Bless,<br />NatalieNataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339567525572290652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765724874744970218.post-50949086937342650182010-11-25T04:15:00.000-08:002010-11-25T04:17:15.384-08:00Let's Talk Turkey!I feel so blessed to be announcing that yesterday the Forest Grove News Times did a cover story about our turkeys. Here's the link: http://forestgrovenewstimes.com/news/story.php?story_id=129056105621193700Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339567525572290652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765724874744970218.post-92026211414629637642010-11-21T16:38:00.000-08:002010-11-25T04:44:16.671-08:00The true cost of ThanksgivingHow can that be, we’ll pay $4.49/lb for frozen boneless skinless chicken breast from a factory farm but not pay $3/lb for a fresh heritage turkey? When did we decide that turkeys were cheaper to raise or that it was an inferior meat we’d only pay $.59/lb for???<br /><br />It takes at least 14 weeks to get that huge bowling ball turkey raised yet it takes 6-8 weeks to raise a chicken for the dinner table. For our birds it is 20 weeks and 10, but you get the idea. That right there tells you the cost is higher per bird to feed and labor to care for. There is the opportunity cost to factor in that you could raise 3 times as many chickens in the time you can raise turkeys because they take longer and are bigger. Turkeys also are harder to raise because they have different instincts and yes are a little on the slower side. They try to take my rings all the time, and being taller I have to maneuver differently. They are more hassle.<br /><br />If you buy a turkey in the off season you’ll be paying $1.99-$2.49 a pound, similar to that of whole chickens only the turkey is frozen where the chicken would probably be fresh. The main reason I think we take for granted the cost of our turkey meat is because we get it free when we purchase $100 worth of other stuff. That’s right, who hasn’t seen the ads in the paper or the signs at the store “Turkey $.99/lb; $.19/lb with the purchase of $100 worth of groceries” or a flat out free turkey with that purchase. You aren’t really getting the turkey free, grocery stores have done a wonderful job of making you pay for everything without you knowing it. And loss leaders aren’t even as great a deal as they once were. If you bought your eggs at $.19 a dozen, that’s a great deal at a loss to the grocery store, if you just buy the eggs. But they know that most people will also pick up the boneless skinless chicken breast, or maybe the $15 vitamins, maybe you splurge on ice cream, yea you paid full price for the eggs in the end when you walk out with $50 worth of stuff. Same goes for Thanksgiving, you paid for your turkey when you bought 2 things of stuffing instead of one, you bought 4 pie crusts and 2 big cans of pumpkin, and just to make sure you hit that $100 mark you bought that weekly celebrity gossip magazine in the checkout line. Yea, we all paid for our turkeys.<br /><br />We really get what we paid for too. These quick growing all white meat, double breasted behemoth turkeys lack flavor and texture. We’ve all had that breast meat that is lacking texture, it turns to mush and it was so dry we gravied it up so now it is a chewy, salty, gravy-flavored mush. I don’t think that’s what Ben Franklin had in mind when he wanted the turkey to be our national bird. He’d be so disappointed with what graces our tables anymore.<br /><br />I’m so excited we are offering the ability to have a heritage turkey to our patrons this year. I hope to continue the tradition and offer more tasty poultry products in the future.<br /><br />Speaking of turkey, I have to go decide what’s for dinner.<br /> <br />I’m thinkin’ turkey meatballs, <br />NatalieNataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339567525572290652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765724874744970218.post-55149103314577966402010-10-10T12:21:00.000-07:002010-10-10T12:21:00.224-07:00Forest Grove Tour De Coop!!! Coming SoonI am going to be putting together the first ever 2011 Tour de Coops in Forest Grove. If you are a backyard chicken raiser in the Forest Grove area please email me. I'd love to come check our your coop and get you signed up for the tour. Details to come. Yay Forest Grove chickens!!!!Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339567525572290652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765724874744970218.post-40660924413702517902010-10-01T19:00:00.000-07:002011-02-23T19:24:05.672-08:00My Poultry Education (A Rude Awakening in Mississippi)<br /><br />I was asked the other day why, with my background, I didn’t go into the commercial poultry industry. I thought I would talk about my last poultry classes and the education I received first hand from the industry here on my blog. I have a passion for poultry, they are fun, beautiful, and provide very tasty food. I enjoy the birds first and the products secondary. They are funny, quirky and sometimes crazy. At least my hens are! I love watching them scamper through the grass and I love learning about them. I loved learning about them so much I went one of the top schools for poultry – Mississippi State University.<br /><br />I studied poultry at MSU my senior year and was taken to both broiler houses and a layer farm. I had learned about the commercial industry and didn’t like the concepts of chickens in cages, chickens eating the offal from the broiler industry, etc. Before I even saw these facilities first hand I had rejected the concept of being a part of raising chickens in cages. But until I saw it with my own eyes, heard them chortling and cooing like my chickens chortle and coo, I didn’t have that big a problem with chickens raised in cages. The whole out of sight out of mind thing.<br /><br />Let me be very clear, P E T A’s depiction of abuse and disgust is not true of facilities housing caged birds or the meat industry either. They are known for staging abuse to prove a point (confused? P E T A euthanizes more animals every year than humane societies, “greater good” I guess). By USDA standards they were sufficiently cared for. The facility was surprisingly clean for all the dander and feathers that many hens would be releasing daily and it was almost odorless. A lot of research has gone into developing these facilities to have proper ventilation, odor and disease control. P E T A likes to film and with the tight security and biosecurity on farms today, I doubt any of their filmed farm abuse segments are real.<br /><br />But, while walking through the rows of caged laying hens I did have to separate from the group as I started to cry. I couldn’t hold back my emotions regarding the chickens, not because of the chickens themselves, as far as I could see they were not deformed or cannibalizing each other. The reason I was crying was because I have chickens. They may not be treated as pets, they are farm animals, but I still respect them and value their job highly. I didn’t feel the chickens were respected properly there. And what was worse, I was in a class filled with people who had no emotional reaction to this. They were not horrified, many had worked summers in these facilities or have family who run them. When asked if I was crying I had to say I was sensitive to the ammonia (which there really wasn't much of because they really do regulate these houses well). I feel they should have earth beneath their feet, not wire, and they should have room to flap and roosts to rest on. It was frustrating to me.<br /><br />I do believe there is a valid reason for confined animal operations and to some extent genetically modified organisms. Don’t de-friend me just yet. We can’t feed the world or even our own neighbors. Our global population isn’t well nourished, so I understand that until we can feed all of our people we need to find creative and scientific ways to care for everyone better. But that doesn’t mean I agree with chickens being dubbed (they still have all of their beak but the tip so debeaking is not an accurate term) so you can shove more of them in a cage and I certainly don’t agree with shoving them in cages.<br /><br />I do apologize for my long winded tangent(s). Yay chickens!<br /><br />Anyway, I decided a while ago that I really wasn’t needed or wanted in the commercial poultry industry. I don’t want to be branded a pot stirrer and I certainly am not one to keep my mouth shut. So I have sought out on my own to redefine poultry for Forest Grove, one egg at a time.<br /><br />Thank you for your support and continuing to read my blog. <br /><br />Speaking of eggs… gotta go hatch some,<br /><br />NatalieNataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339567525572290652noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765724874744970218.post-38630679828742752012010-09-21T13:18:00.000-07:002010-09-21T13:18:00.374-07:00What is my risk of Salmonella from my breakfast?I know the media has to make money with the news but they really know how to scare people don't they?!<br /><br />EGGS ARE SAFE. In general anyway. As long as you cook your eggs entirely and wash your hands after handling raw eggs, the risk is minimal. Salmonella like most bacteria is killed when heated with cooking or with a microwave, it also can be washed off of your hands easily with soap and water if you wash your hands vigorously and for at least 20 seconds. Oh, and wash your reusable shopping bags at least once a month. 97% of people say they rarely or have never washed their reusable bags. You might want to get on that, I know I should get better about it. And as always, try to purchase eggs from hens that are from small farm producers that utilize fresh air and green space for their chickens. Cooped up chickens get sick easier and that can incubate increased bacteria loads in eggs. <br /><br />The best way to ensure the best eggs is to collect eggs daily from your own healthy chickens from your own coop, but if that isn’t an option, you know where to find me :) <br /><br />Better go grab some eggs from the nest for breakfast,<br /><br />NatalieNataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339567525572290652noreply@blogger.com0