Chickens

I have friends who keep or have kept chickens.  They have relationships with their birds somewhere between pet and poultry.  They keep chickens mostly for the eggs, but also because they like the chickens.  My friends talk to them, care for them, and some even name them.  It is a relationship of give and take.
Milwaukee allows urban dwellers to keep backyard chicken coops now.  You are limited to four hens, no roosters.  There are rules for distances from neighbors, permission letters, and permits are required.  You are not allowed to butcher your hens in the city limits when they reach menopause.  You have to take them to the "country" to dispatch your old hens for soup birds.

There are many misconceptions about chickens.  One of the biggest misconceptions is that you don't get eggs unless you have a rooster.  You get eggs, you don't get chicks from those eggs no matter how long you incubate them.  Chickens will start laying eggs somewhere around five months, give or take.   A chicken can lay an egg a day, sometimes less, sometimes more.  They are omnivores, not vegetarians.  They eat bugs as well as grains.  The better eggs come from chickens which are allowed to scratch around and get a bit of greens and bugs.  You still have to feed them daily even if you allow them out.  They need water every day.  They don't like to be too cold, but they really don't like to be too hot.  One friend lost several birds on a hot day even though they were out in the open air.  Chickens need protection from the elements and predators.  If you have hawks, fox, or raccoon in your neighborhood, you have predators.  Chickens roost at night so you need to let them in and let them out each day.

If you like farm fresh eggs but are not committed to caring for the chickens, go to the farmer and get your eggs.  I am not to that point where my lifestyle is going to have chickens in it yet, but I hope to get there someday in the not too distant future.  In the meantime, I will continue to be grateful for those people in my life who do keep chickens and supply some of the best eggs I have had the fortune to bake and cook with.  I will also continue to do my reading and be ready for that day I get my own hens in my backyard.

Winter Farm Market at State Fair Park

The Winter Farm Market at State Fair Park is a busy place from 8:00 to Noon on Saturdays in West Allis.  The market is held inside the Tommy Thompson Youth Building right off 84th St.  Numerous venders sell a variety of items through April 14th.  Check out the link on Wisconsin State Fair page http://www.wistatefair.com/index.html.

I was pleasantly surprised to find winter root crops available as my onion supply had dwindled to almost nothing.  In past years I have not been fortunate to find these items this late in the season.  There were also a few fresh items (greens, herbs, etc.) from some new venders that are doing gardening under glass.  Mushrooms are also for sale in several types which come from a farm in Burlington.  

 There are also several items which can be purchased that have been preserved and bottled with a longer shelf life.  The mushroom farm sells pickled items including a portabella salsa which is very good.  

There are also bottled sweet items.  Honey, maple syrup, and sorghum are all available in a variety of sizes.










Meat, poultry, and eggs are widely available at the market from many farms which are a short drive from Milwaukee County.  Chicken, beef, and pork are the mainstays, but you can also find lamb, goat, elk, bison and other less common meats.  There are venders which sell cured sausages from some of these selections as well.  I was interested in butter and eggs this Saturday and was not disappointed.  I sampled some cheeses made by local dairies that will be on my list for the next trip when I have a few more dollars in my pocket.

I highly recommend a trip to the Winter Farm Market.  I have not mentioned every vender and available item so you will have some adventure awaiting you on your trip.  Nothing beats shopping in an environment that allows you to talk to the farmer that produced the food you are buying.  Don't feel that they don't have the time or don't want to answer "dumb" questions.  They are proud of their products and what they do.  It is a treat to meet some of Wisconsin's farmers close to home.