By Laura Keir, Monadnock Localvore Project

The first time I heard the young rooster’s “Cock-a-doodle-doo!” I had no idea what the strange noise was. It was one of the first attempts made by the rooster at this iconic sound, plus it was early in the day and I was not fully awake. But as the weeks have passed by there have been many more attempts (at all hours) with great improvement. The rooster lives among a dozen hens in my backyard. Since they arrived in the mail a few months ago they have grown at an amazing rate- they are definitely not cute, fuzzy chicks anymore. And in short time they will start laying eggs.

Local eggs seem to be in abundance in the Monadnock Region, whether raised in backyards or at area farms. This month’s newsletter features the labor and fruits that go along with growing laying hens:

Backyard Chickens: CA residents laud the benefits of hens
By Carolyn Snyder, Published July 27, 2011 in Los Altos Town Crier

Shari Emling of Los Altos Hills, CA has something to cackle about. So do Nancy and Mike Schneider and Roberta Barns, all living in Los Altos. They’re among the growing number of people who keep chickens in their backyards. And they are quick to point out the benefits – namely food, fertilizer and pest control – that have contributed to this trend. Just consider the fact that the website www.backyardchickens.com gets 6 million hits a month and 4,000 new posts on its online forum each day.

Egg Producers and Humane Society Urging Federal Standard on Hen Cages
By William Neuman, Published July 7, 2011 on NewYorkTimes.com

Two groups that are usually squawking at each other – egg farmers and animal welfare advocates – announced an unusual agreement on Thursday to work together to seek a federal law that would require larger cages and other improved conditions for the nation’s 280 million laying hens.

Fresh Eggs So Local, They’re at Your House
By Florence Fabricant, Published June 7, 2011 on NewYorkTimes.com

Imagine fresh eggs from your own backyard. Jason Stroud, an antiques restorer in Red Hook, Brooklyn, knows that pleasure well. And he has started sharing it, helping urban homesteaders set up backyard coops with the appropriate kinds of chickens. He has been so busy since he started building and selling the coops a couple of months ago that he is phasing out his antiques business.

How Fresh Are Your Eggs?
Katrina Hall of She’s in the Kitchen explains how to tell if your eggs are too old, using a bowl of cold water. Find out how by reading on!

What’s your interest?

Do you raise chickens? Have some good egg recipes for when the hens just won’t stop laying? Do you have a favorite source for local eggs? Please share your thoughts via email, Facebook, and Twitter.