Morning Owl Farm
Egg Production and Handling, Integrating Plants and
Animals on Your Farm and Waste Management
June 13, 2009
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(Picture by Diane Ronayne) Food Safety Workshop at Morning Owl Farm Topics: Egg Production and Handling, Integrating Plants and Animals on Your Farm and Waste Management Host Mary Rohlfing of Morning Owl Farm welcomed participants from the Morning Owl Farm Market, which offers products grown and raised at her own and other area farms. In addition to the Market, Morning Owl Farm offers an array of CSA options, some of which include products from other farmers and producers. Morning Owl Farm Lower gardens. When Mary Rohlfing started Morning Owl Farm, the land was overgrazed with very little organic matter. Mary is bringing the soil to health by using 250 ducks in a rotational grazing scheme and composting the bird’s winter bedding. Several hundred heirloom and organic tomato plants. Morning Owl Farm has been researching 10 varieties of organic, heirloom melons for the last three years. Here, the melons are planted in straw mulch with a mix of annual and perennial rye grass creating the walk ways. Morning Owl Farm grows tomatoes using close spacing. The straw mulch helps control weeds, retain moisture and provide organic matter to the soil for next year. A variety of methods were discussed to discourage Gophers. Box traps as seen in this photo are the current method of choice. In addition to ducks, Morning Owl Farm is home to one horse, the occasional turkey, two dogs, a few cats and a handful of retired layer hens. The hens are used to scratch the duck’s bedding in winter and extend its life and usefulness. And some bees Ducks leaving the barn and heading to greener pastures. Federal and state regulations for egg washing exist only for large scale operations (over 300 haying birds). Morning Owl developed an egg washing protocol appropriate to small scale producers based on research and input from local inspectors and discussions with four state’s agriculture departments. This protocol is available on the Morning Owl Farm website at www.morningowlfarm.com The egg washing room. Lesson #1: Wash fast! Rohlfing explains bacteria on dirty eggs doesn’t easily pass through warm shells. She washes eggs in hot water, then. When the eggs are clean, she immerses them in cold water to “reclose” the shell’s pores. NOTE: Any bacteria in eggs is killed if they are cooked correctly. Candling eggs will identify blood spots and cracks. Morning Owl Farms washes and candles all eggs (sometimes up to 1200 eggs a week) to assure eaters that the eggs they buy from Morning Owl Farm are clean and free of defects. Fencing is always a challenge with ducks- these ducks follow participants down the corridor instead of inside their paddock. Like chickens, ducks come inside on their own at night. They must have protection from predators, as well as a place to lay eggs and get out of harsh weather. Ducks, unlike chickens, though, tend to thrive in wet, cold and snowy conditions. Rohlfing says, “The messier it is, the more they like it.” Shelters and laying boxes can be as simple as a shed with plastic tubs. Morning Owl Farm uses plastic tubs placed on end because they provide the ducks privacy for laying and can be hosed out and easily cleaned. Plastic tubs have multiple uses at Morning Owl Farm. Mary attached tubs to wooden skids she made. Using used rain gutters as feeder trays, she cut slits in the bottom of the tubs, angled them over the gutters and viola! has easily moveable feed sleds. The feed sled shown here holds 250 pounds of feed and cost under $20 to build. Kiddie pools provide an excellent water source for drinking or swimming. Although puddles are just as good. Ducklings are purchased each year in alternating colors. This provides easy identification of birds by age. In this photo, the white ducks are one year older than the brown. In less than a year, Morning Owl Farm has increased the soil’s organic matter by 45% through intensive grazing management practices. Mary uses bedding from the ducks to create compost that is used to fertilize her crops. As a certified organic farm, Morning Owl Farm follows the strict guidelines established by the National Organic Program for safe compost creation and use. Happy Ducks at Morning Owl Farm Quack Quiche made with Morning Owl Farm duck eggs are can be ordered through the farm’s website at www.morningowlfarm.com (Picture by Diane Ronayne)
Food Safety Workshop at Morning Owl Farm Topics: Egg Production and Handling, Integrating Plants and Animals on Your Farm and Waste Management
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