exposure by Rick Gush
These Leghorns , or Livornese are keep their Italian family stocked with impudent eggs .
The managing editor for these“Rick ’s Favorite Crops”blogs onUrbanFarmOnline.com , the internet site forUrban Farmmagazine , is now also the managing editor for a mag titledChickens , from the same publisher . There ’s something about the possible action of being able-bodied to spell an clause or two forChickensmagazine that really strikes my fancy . late , I ’ve been wandering around the James Jerome Hill , talking to people who keep chickens in the hopes that I might bump an interesting enough account to merit thoughtfulness for the powder magazine .
Last week , I visit a charming Italian family with a big , sprawl farm perched on a mickle that overlooks the bay in Rapallo . I took some photos of theirchickens , and demand them all sort of questions about their operation .
They fundamentally raise two types of chickens : All of their females areLivornese , orLeghorns , which the kinfolk raises for eggs . These chickens are from the old Italian diversity that was import to the States back in the 1800s and went on to become one of the most usual commercial-grade breeds in America .
Livorneseare particularly prized because they are exceptional egg layers , laying at a rate of almost one eggs a day . In typical Italian style , they feed a lot of the testis from their chickens and then sell the surplus to aid pay for the travelling bag of feed .
The exposure you see here is of two of the kinsperson ’s rooster , which they raise for sum . These are really pretty raspberry and of a form described asMondovi . I have n’t been able to find out much about the breed , but I do know there ’s a town of that name a few hour northwards of here , so I suppose I ’ll have to motor up there someday and nozzle around in orderliness to find out the history of these skirt .
The multitude I visited keep the chickens in a fairly largehousewith double wall and a special concrete foundation that is resistant to digging intruders . The building was surrounded by a very large , open domain that has been argue with a 10- or 12 - foot - tall wire - meshing fence . There were a spate of trees , shrubs and skunk growing in the enclosure , and the country very much act the paradigm of spare - range . When my host let the XII males out to the yard , they all ran out excitedly and romp about like a playful herd of puppies . Very charming .
I ’ve always had a turn of trouble killing the chickens and turkeys I ’ve raised myself , as I tend to get emotionally attached . But I have no difficulty eating the birds I ’ve raised , as they have all been fairly tasty .
I think I feel the same way about most farm animals . A few years ago , I built “ Rabbit Paradise , ” an enclosure to demonstrate what I thought was a secure accommodation than the atrocious cages most mass practice toraise rabbit . This was also intended as an region where sign rabbits could have a sport gambol area , and I wrote a magazine article for the SPCA ’s mag about the coney resort area . While on my luncheon breaks during the construction , I would cross the street and eat lunch at a lowly trattoria , where I would commonly have grizzle rabbit . hare are great house dearie , and they are also delicious !
Read more of Rick ’s Favorite Crops »
