Cheers to science and to increased access to science education!
On Thursday, June 15th, Ms. Carmen was recognized by Assembly Member Brian Cunningham during the Women of Distinction award event at the Brooklyn Children's Museum. You can find Ms. Carmen's speech HERE. Cheers to science and to increased access to science education!
One June 10th, two new chicks joined our flock! Currently eight weeks old, the chicks are currently in transitional quarantine. The new chicks are significantly smaller than the adult hens, so they're being kept separately until they get bigger. This also allows for a slow introduction into the existing chicken pecking order.
The chicken pecking order is the social structure that exists within a group of chickens. It determines the social rank and dominance relationships among the individuals in the flock. The pecking order is established through pecking and aggressive behavior, with higher-ranking chickens having priority access to food, water, and preferred nesting spots. In our flock, Spicy Mildred is at the top of the pecking order. When a new chicken is introduced to an existing flock, there is a period of aggression to establish their place within the pecking order. Chickens higher in the hierarchy will peck, chase, or intimidate lower-ranking ones, establishing their dominance. With the tremendous size difference, this poses a safety risk for the new chicks. For a few more weeks, the dietary needs of the chicks and the laying hens will be different, and so its important to feed them separately and monitor the food intake. The adult hens and the chicks have their own separate water and food sources in addition to separate sleeping and hanging out areas. So far, the hens have been mildly curious about the new additions.
Our newest additions are different types than what we already have in our flock. New to the mix is a Buff Orpington and a Black Sex Link.
Buff Orpingtons are a breed of chicken known for their beautiful golden buff-colored feathers. They are bigger sized birds, known for their friendliness and fluffiness. They lay large brown eggs and are an excellent breed for northeastern winters. Black Sex Link chickens are a crossbreed between a barred or black rooster and a red hen. They are often known as Black Stars, Black Rocks, or Black Reds. The gender of Black Sex Link chicks can be determined by their feather color at hatch. Female chicks hatch with black feathers, whereas male chicks hatch with all red feathers.
Soon we'll need names for our new chicks!
Check out the variations in the eggs laid by our backyard hens! Not only is there a difference in the egg shell pigment, check out the differing shapes and sizes!
One of the biggest factors affecting egg shape and size is the breed of chicken who laid it. Different chicken breeds possess specific genetic traits that impact the characteristics of their eggs. For instance, larger chicken breeds generally produce larger eggs. On the other hand, smaller breeds like bantams tend to lay smaller eggs. These genetic variations create the foundation for the diverse sizes and shapes we observe. Age can also be a factor in egg shape and size. Younger hens often lay smaller eggs, while older hens produce larger eggs. This correlation between age and egg size is natural. When hens first begin laying eggs, their reproductive systems are still developing, resulting in smaller eggs. Over time, their reproductive organs become more robust, enabling the production of larger eggs. Over time, the size and shape of chicken eggs can change throughout a hen's laying and life cycle. A chicken's diet and nutrition also play a significant role in the size and shape of their eggs. Hens that receive a well-balanced and nutrient-rich diet tend to lay larger eggs. Adequate protein, calcium, and other essential nutrients are essential for the formation of eggs with strong shells and ample yolk. In the picture above, the larger two eggs were laid by Blanche, a Red Star hen. She has been laying for over a year and is a larger bird. The light beige egg is from our Australorp, Spicy Mildred who is five years old and considered an elder chicken. All the way on the left is our Americauna egg, laid by Curry. She is a rather petite bird, also laying for a little over a year. The diverse sizes and shapes of chicken eggs are a result of various factors, including genetics, age, nutrition, and environmental influences. Understanding these factors provides valuable insights into the biology and behavior of chickens while adding an extra layer of fascination to the culinary marvels that eggs bring to our plates. Hip hip hooray for our new Little Free Library!! Our original Library was first established in 2020 thanks to @citizenscommittee, @brooklynbookbodega, and individual donors. The goal was to keep it going for "at least a year" and serve as a resource point for the young people in our community.
Almost three years later (and a hurricane, two wind storms, one blizzard, and a regular snow storm) our original Library was barely holding together and it was time for it to retire gracefully. We put out the call for help and raised enough funds to not only replace what was broken, we replaced the Library entirely. THANK YOU for making that possible! Your support, and lessons learned from our first endeavor, means this Little Free Library is better than before! Grab a book or three for the young reader in your life as you walk by. Special thanks to youth artist Kai B. for our new Library design! We've been busy engaging our brains in creative arts work as our STEAM Educator, Ms. Lauren, guides our creators in taking ideas and making them into something tangible. We've explored stop-motion animation and even made our very own film! We've created detailed dioramas for our species and implemented different techniques to make our details. We've created wood cars and wood sculptures (and even added working lights to some of our projects!).
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