A poultry farm
Most eggs in shops come from large poultry farms. There hens live in cages several tiers high, a few hens in each section, with a feed trough and a drinker fixed in front of the bars. Hens are fed twice a day with grain, chopped carrot, greens and mixed feed, which is a blend of several foods such as wheat, maize and millet. They get only clean water, and the cages are cleaned regularly. A livestock specialist and a vet watch the birds’ health and vaccinate them. A newly laid egg rolls down a sloping floor into a collector; then workers check that it is clean, the shell is whole, and its size and weight, and pack it in boxes.
You need: a washed and dried 1-litre milk or juice carton, scissors or a small knife (adult only), string, a pencil, plain unsalted sunflower seeds and millet. Steps: 1) An adult cuts a 6×6 cm window on two opposite sides, 4 cm up from the bottom. 2) With an adult, poke two small holes at the top with a pencil and thread string to make a loop. 3) Put seeds under the windows and hang the feeder on a garden tree branch, out of a cat’s reach. 4) Check and refill the seeds every day. Safety: only an adult cuts with knife or scissors; never give salty or spicy food or bread scraps; wash your hands with soap after handling the feeder.