Birds | Eggs | Consulting
We raise a myriad of birds each for different purposes. We have a pasture flock that we raise for an abundance of nutritious eggs, birds we raise for egg color to bring cheer to the dozen, and birds we raise strictly for show and companionship (for example, the Serama). We also raise game birds for upland hunting and training hunting dogs.
Are you interested in keeping chickens but don’t know where to begin?
Do you want to know where your food comes from or how to process it yourself?
Do you just want a cute micro chicken friend or two?
If so, reach out! Send Katie Jo a text, email, or message us online to learn more. You can also find us at the Downtown Marble Falls Farmers Market, Tuesdays from 4-7pm
Psssst… a small honor-system farm store is brewing in our minds and on paper. Stay tuned and follow our instagram account to be the first to know about it.
Eggs
We’re passionate about birds to say the least. Our laying flocks are growing bigger and we’d like to share the overflowing bounty of these beautiful rainbow eggs with other appreciators.
The color flock is a motley crew consisting of Marans, Rhode Island Reds, Olive Eggers, Leghorns, Cream Legbars, Ameraucanas, Orpingtons, and Wyandottes. We keep a couple cutie Silkies and Seramas as well to add flair and eye-candy to the coops. Our pasture flock consists of Red Ranger crosses that are amazing foragers, they go far out and deep into the pastures; their yolk colors are the brightest of the bunch.
The flocks roam freely during the day and consume mostly grasses, seeds, and insects in season. In addition to ranging, the chickens are given access to free-choice high quality feed supplemented with herbs and other grains, and fresh garden greens and scraps from our kitchen. They eat better than the standard American!
When it comes to eggs, if we’re lucky, the guineas start a nest of eggs in our garden, and we’re able to collect some of their eggs as well. Guinea produce AMAZING eggs, made primarily of yolks. They are a true prize.
The assortment of hens we raise produce different sizes and colors of eggs. Some light pistachio color, some pink, some speckled, some deep deep chocolate brown. We love them! We just keep chasing that egg rainbow. With certain blooms, the eggs can appear purple.
These eggs are available for local pickup, or can be delivered within the Marble Falls area. Find us at some local Farmers Markets as well. Contact Katie Jo for more. Hatching eggs also available.
Text Katie Jo at (906) 281-2177 about chickens and eggs, or send us an email message by clicking below.
Table Birds
Also known as, meat birds, it’s what graces your table. Raised on the hill country landscape, these birds have more robust flavor profiles and a higher nutrient density from eating grasses and chasing down grasshoppers, and likely lizards, too. Do they taste different than “store chicken?” We think so.
We raise Cornish Cross, Red Rangers, and dual purpose heritage breeds for table birds. Each breed has their place, purpose, and preference for the homesteader and family cook. All taste great and are incredibly nutritious. You’ll get the most amazing gelatinous stock from pasture raised birds. Read my blog about “Killing the same bird twice.”
Traditional Seramas
Not enough space for chickens? Look to the Serama, the smallest chickens in the world.
Smooth, Silkied, and Frizzle Seramas
Mature birds weigh around one pound. They are delightful chickens with big personalities and often kept as pets due to their size and friendliness. Proud in stance, they're often described as "little soldiers." Congenial and talkative, they’re sure to win you over.
Seramas are a fast growing breed. Pullets can begin laying between 4 and 5 months of age, unlike full size breeds that can take up to 6-9 months. Eggs are small and they lay often.
Because of the Serama’s petite size, they are easy on the landscape and they won't destroy your garden like full size hens can. Serama are perfect for small spaces and yards as they don't require much space and consume considerably less feed than standard birds. Also, less poop!
Seramas are absolutely lovely!
Marans
Let’s set the record straight. It’s “Marans” and it’s always with an s, because the name comes from a place called, Marans, France. It would be like not using the s in Athens, Greece. I’m sure I made the mistake in my initial foray into Marans, but as a dedicated learner and steward of the animals I raise, I committed that knowledge to memory. Call me smug, but if someone is selling Marans and not spelling the name correctly, to me that’s an indicator that they’re inexperienced, or don’t have an attention to detail. When raising and incubating birds and raising to improve certain genetics, attention to detail is paramount. I’m also a writer-of-sorts and appreciator of words, so those particular faux-pas irk me.
Now that I’m off my soap box, let me tell you more about the Marans I’m working to raise here on the ranch.
My first Marans I hatched from dark eggs from April Howington of H&H Poultry in Burnet, Texas. Out of eight eggs incubated, I hatched three roosters, two Black Copper and one Blue. In order to breed towards the Standard of Perfection and honor the breed heritage, I purchased some beautiful Black Copper Marans pullets from a breeder in Hutto, Texas named, Donna Larson. I met her through Austin Backyard Poultry. These pullets grew into beautiful hens and have been producing beautiful dark chocolate eggs in two separate breeding pens for me. This year 2024, I have hatched many Marans, mainly for my rainbow dozen goals. The Marans dark egg genetics lend to producing some beautiful crosses that make greatly colored eggs, such as Olive Eggers. My goals with the Marans are simultaneously to produce rich dark colored eggs and have the birds align with the SOP. I don’t care if that’s a lofty goal.
A bit about Marans: Hens lay a meager amount of eggs each week, nothing like a prolific Leghorn although the size is comparable. Marans are stunning sturdy birds with even more stunning eggs. Shanks are feathered on all my birds, some more than others.
Follow along as I work towards these goals - buy some hatching eggs or chicks and honor this incredible heritage breed.
IG: @thimbleberryslam
Katie Jo’s Here To Help
Coop design, hatching and breeding, health, nutrition, and legal aspects. There are thousands of people who are more knowledgable than I am, but millions that are not - Heh! - I’m here to help you how best I can.
20 Minute Virtual Consultation - $48
40 Minute Virtual Consultation - $95
2 Hour In Person Consultation / Workshop - starting at $265
Email Me at hello@flatrockcreek.com to schedule a consultation.
Follow Me on Instagram @thimbleberryslam for my chicken ramblings and more.