🐔 The Top Chicken Breeds for Gorgeous Colored Eggs + Quick Kitchen Fixes You’ll LOVE

IN TODAY'S EDITION

1. Homestead Tip 🌱

2. Poll Results From Last Thursday 📊

3. All Things Homestead: Top Chickens That Lay Colored Eggs 🥚

4. Personal Development: Kitchen Efficiency Hacks 🍳

5. Today's Top Picks 🛍️

6. Let’s Keep It Reel 🤣

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Take Control Back with Homesteading

Do you ever feel like life is moving too fast and you can’t keep up? We’ve all been there: feeling lost in a world of processed foods, skyrocketing grocery bills, and a sense of helplessness when it comes to your family's health and wellbeing.

Imagine a different reality. What if you could pick fresh herbs from your garden to make a healing tea when a cold hits? Or have a pantry stocked with home-canned meals ready to serve in minutes, so you don’t have to stress over dinner after a long day?

But here’s the thing… it’s hard to make that change on your own. Where do you even begin?

That’s why I created The Homestead Movement.

Let me save you the years of trial and error I went through. Let’s start this journey together… right now.

What’s Waiting for You Inside:

• Monthly Skillset Challenges, like Canning and Food Preservation, to build your self-sufficiency step-by-step.

• A supportive community of women who understand what you’re going through (trust me, I get it!).

• Real-life strategies, like making your own natural skincare, crafting homemade cleaning products, and even how to can your favorite meals.

Ready to Start? Here’s What’s Inside:

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Don't wait until you're buried under piles of take-out containers or feel helpless in the grocery aisle. Start mastering homesteading today and take back control of your life.

POLL RESULTS FROM LAST THURSDAY

What’s one self-sufficiency goal you want to achieve this year?

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Growing all my vegetables

🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ Making my own cleaning products

🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️ Raising animals for eggs, meat, or milk

🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Other (comment your goal!)

via @beehiiv polls

Feel free to participate in fun polls in our next newsletters! 😉

Also, follow us on our social media accounts for daily homesteading inspiration and updates.

ALL THINGS HOMESTEAD

Top Chicken Breeds That Lay Colored Eggs 🥚

If you’re raising chickens, you’ve probably noticed that eggs come in all shades of brown and white. But have you ever considered adding a splash of color to your egg basket? Here’s a quick guide to getting chickens that lay those eggs.

1. Araucanas: These chickens are famous for their blue eggs. They’re hardy, friendly, and are great layers. Plus, their unique look with tufts of feathers around their ears makes them stand out in your flock.

2. Ameraucanas: If you're after blue eggs but with a more laid-back personality, the Ameraucana is a great choice. They are the same species as Araucanas but have a more rounded body shape. These hens are great for both cold and hot climates, so they’re a solid option no matter where you live.

3. Easter Eggers: Easter Eggers are a mix of several breeds, but they’re known for their ability to lay eggs in a variety of colors (from pastel blue and green to pink and even lavender!) If you're looking for an egg color surprise, these birds are your best bet. They're friendly, hardy, and easy to care for.

4. Olive Eggers: As the name suggests, Olive Eggers lay beautiful olive-green eggs. These chickens are a cross between dark egg-laying breeds (like Marans) and blue egg layers (like Ameraucanas). The result? A stunning greenish egg with a hint of rustic charm. They’re also known for being hardy and friendly.

5. Marans: Known for their rich, dark brown eggs, Marans are often a favorite for homesteaders looking for both beauty and substance. The eggs range from deep chocolate brown to a lighter tan, but they’re always a beautiful addition to your egg collection.

Other Egg Colors You Can Get

• White Eggs: While not exactly “colored,” don’t forget about white eggs. Leghorns and other white-laying breeds might not lay colorful eggs, but they produce reliably.

• Pink Eggs: Some hens, like the Heritage Rhode Island Reds, can lay eggs with a soft pinkish hue.

• Speckled Eggs: Hens like the Copper Maran can produce eggs with a speckled or dappled appearance, giving your egg basket an extra layer of charm.

Why They’re Worth It

• Aesthetic Appeal: Who wouldn’t want a basket of bright blue, green, and brown eggs sitting on the counter? They look fantastic and make your mornings feel a little extra special.

• Increased Market Value: Colored eggs can fetch a higher price at farmer’s markets because they stand out. People are drawn to the uniqueness of the egg’s color, and some even pay a premium for eggs that come from these breeds.

• Fun for the Family: Watching your kids marvel at the different-colored eggs can be a fun and educational experience for everyone on the homestead. It’s also a great conversation starter when friends come over.

• Long-Term Productivity: These chickens produce great eggs. Many of the colored-egg laying breeds are known for being reliable layers, even in tough weather conditions.

Potential Challenges

• Temperament: Some of the breeds that lay colorful eggs, like Araucanas or Ameraucanas, can be a bit skittish. They might not be as docile as other breeds, which can make them trickier to handle.

• Egg Laying Patterns: Some colored-egg laying breeds may not lay as frequently as regular brown or white egg layers. However, they typically still provide enough eggs for a homesteader’s needs, so it’s not a dealbreaker.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Kitchen Efficiency Hacks 🍳

Undoubtedly, the kitchen can be a chaotic place. Between meal prep, cooking, and cleaning, it sometimes feels like you’re juggling a million things. But what if you could make things easier? The secret lies in improving kitchen efficiency.

Optimize Tool Placement

Think about it… how many times have you wasted precious minutes searching for the spatula or the can opener while your dish is burning on the stove? A good rule of thumb is to keep tools where you use them most.

• Cooking Tools: Place commonly used utensils like spatulas, tongs, and ladles near the stove or prep area. No more running back and forth to the drawer!

• Cutting Boards & Knives: Keep your cutting board and knives within arm’s reach of the prep space. The less you have to move around, the smoother the cooking process will go.

• Storage Spaces: Invest in drawer dividers or small containers to neatly store your tools. A little order goes a long way.

Meal Prep Shortcuts

Meal prep can be a time-consuming task, but it doesn’t have to be. A few smart shortcuts can save you tons of time and hassle.

• Batch Cooking: Cook larger portions of ingredients, like rice, beans, or vegetables, and store them in the fridge. This will cut down on cooking time throughout the week.

• Prep Ingredients in Advance: If you know you’ll be making a lot of salads or stir-fries, chop your veggies and store them in clear, labeled containers. Having pre-cut vegetables means you won’t waste time chopping every single night.

• Make Use of Slow Cookers or Instant Pots: These appliances do the heavy lifting for you. Throw in the ingredients, set the timer, and let them work while you focus on other tasks.

The more you prepare in advance, the less stress you'll have when it’s time to cook.

Organize Ingredients for Easy Access

• Spice Rack Organization: Arrange your spices in a way that’s easy to access. Alphabetizing them or using a rotating spice rack can save you time.

• Clear Storage Containers: Store dry ingredients like flour, sugar, and pasta in clear containers. This makes it easy to see what you have and reduces the chances of buying duplicates.

• Label Everything: Use labels for both dry and fresh ingredients, especially if they’re stored in jars or bins. This will save you from opening a million containers trying to figure out what’s what.

Activity: Rearrange One Kitchen Area

Now, it’s time to put this all into action! Take a look at one area of your kitchen and think about how you can make it more efficient. Here are some ideas:

• Spice Rack: If your spices are a mess, consider re-organizing them in a way that makes sense to you. You could use a wall-mounted rack, a drawer insert, or even a magnetic spice jar system.

• Utensil Drawer: Go through your utensils and remove duplicates. Then, arrange them by frequency of use: spoons and spatulas closest to the stove, tongs and whisks further back.

• Pantry: Reorganize your pantry so that frequently used items are at the front, while less-used items go to the back.

Choose one area to tackle this week, and you'll feel the difference immediately. The more organized the space, the easier your cooking will be.

THE STEADY HOME’S GIGGLE CHAMBER

Why was the barn so happy in February?

Because love was in the hay-r!

TODAY'S TOP PICKS

LET’S KEEP IT REEL!

I've put together some fantastic farm videos that are sure to make you laugh. Take a look and enjoy the fun!

1. I love having guests over—just not when I’m in the middle of making sourdough! 😆

@thattaylorgirl

It’s actually a joke because we rarely have people come over 😂😂 #homestead #homesteadish #sourdoughbread #sourdough #fyp

2. Homesteading on social media vs. real life:

@pitchinhillsfarm

#homestead #homesteadinglife #homesteadtiktok #familyfarm

3. When your husband says, “No more farm animals.” But you hear it as, “No, MORE farm animals!” 😆🐷🐔🐄

@manders_8

He's a real jokester, my husband 😂😂 #farm #homestead #animals #farmlife #husband #joke #husbandwife #husbandwifecomedy #funny #marriedlife... See more

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