“ envision the compass of colors in one cartonful turn peoples ’ preconceived notions about what an egg is , ” says Annie Dye , who runsTheChicksNext Doorin Red Hook , New York .
These days , Dye care for a mickle of over 100 chickens at hermicro farmand has gained a report for producing vivacious arrays ofrainbow egg , but it turns out she originally embark on a markedly different career path . “ I ended up working in gemology in the diamond industry in New York City , ” think Dye . “ But when I moved upstate and whenCOVIDhit , it was finally an chance to have the space and landed estate to keep chicken and do something . ”
Taking metre out from overseeing the quite a little , we spoke to Dye about chicken social networks and the oculus - catching appeal of dotted egg . We also got to get word about head rooster Napoleon .
An Early Farming Imprint
“ Growing up in Ireland , we had dear family friends who had a small-scale farm and some of my earlier remembering are being on that farm , ” recalls Dye of her formative steps into husbandry .
“ I remember being with the cows as they were milked , feeding the chickens and being with the sheepdog . We ’re talking the age of 2 or 3 , and I think it just form on me . ”
The Chicken Social Network
Asked about pleasantly surprising examples of chicken demeanour , Dye articulate that her flock have developed very intricate social networks .
“ There are very authoritative social group within my lot , ” she explicate . “ I did not gestate such complexity in the pecking order and their friendships . I have seven roosters , and they all have their own harems . It ’s just riveting to note . ”
All Hail Napoleon
When it comes to Dye ’s current good deal , she says head rooster Napoleon is the star personality . “ He ’s a little rooster , hence the name , but he ’s the boss of the flock , ” she explicate .
“ He ’s a black Phoenix , and he ’s a ball of fire . He does n’t have to do much to maintain his status — he has this quiet dominance and although he ’s small in height , he ’s very respected by everyone in the flock . He ’s a calm ruler . ”
Vibrant Speckles
Dye say that people tend to naturally gravitate towards very vibrant and speckled egg . “ Some of the turquoise blue devils just get that wow response , and then you couple in speckles and that has the biggest impact for mass , ” she says .
“ But seeing them displayed in a rainbow in all their varieties , that ’s what has the most impingement as oppose to just one color , ” she bear on .
Humbling & Healing
Reflecting on the nourishing nature of spending so much time around chickens , Dye says that it feels “ very humbling and it ’s very healing . ” She adds that while chickens are some of the most mistreated animal in the human beings , she find “ being able-bodied to stir them humanely and care for them is very humbling . ”
little chick
Walking Chickens
Chicken Eggs
