Shelly’s Farm

These are the best eggs by far. WF is Walnut Creek is out and I don’t know what to do! My son loves the green eggs the most. I always look for the package with the most green eggs! I wish they sold the odd shaped and double yokes!

The best, fresh eggs ever! Thanks, Shelly and crew for providing a superb local product.

The first significant rainfall for the Fall of 2010 wasn’t enough to hamper the spirit of our tour group as Shelly McMahon and her family (husband Connie and son Nick) welcomed us onto her 10 acre family farm in Brentwood. Shelly is in the business of raising hens for egg production. In fact, she estimates the total number of hens to be in the range of 1200. Her hens which are a variety of different breeds run around freely on an open pasture fenced off only to keep predators out.
In addition to the natural grasses in the pasture the hens are fed with a custom blended mix of corn, oats, wheat and alfalfa. Although the farm does not have its organic certification yet, (It’s in the works.) no pesticides are used on Shelly’s Farm and no antibiotics are fed to her flock of laying hens. The hens are moved around on the farm to make sure there is always a supply of natural grass to feed on. Common to many egg farms chickens or hens often have their upper beaks clipped to minimize cannibalism among birds. The inhumane practice (that only being my opinion) of beak cutting is never practiced on this farm. Instead the hens here are carefully monitored and any problem birds are simply caught and segregated from the remainder of the flock.
We arrived just as the rain began to come down heavily and just like many people do the hens took off running for cover. There is an enclosed structure where they can run in and out of to roost. I noticed many of the hens sat down and wiggled in the dirt. Some even rolled around. After witnessing that somewhat strange behavior and being completely puzzled it was explained to me that the hens bathe themselves by rolling in the dirt. How fun!
As we walked further into the farm we were introduced to three mules raised on the farm, and as Shelly introduced each one of the mules by name they seemed to understand her and stood side by side providing the perfect photo op. Next, we were introduced to the hatchery where younger hens and baby hens are kept in order to mature. Be careful where you step because the curious young hens just might be at your feet checking out the latest footwear. Shelly picked up a baby hen and placed it gently in our hands to pass around. Seems the baby hens like to be gently stroked just underneath its beak. So comfortable this one I held made a whispering purr sound. I didn’t take a photo of it fearing that my camera’s flash would startle it.
Once out of the hatchery we received a personal demonstration from Connie and Nick covering the final stages of farm fresh egg production. Nick explained to us that eggs are usually gathered at 6:00 AM each morning. Many of the hens are just waking up and are most docile at that time. Once the eggs are gathered they go through an automated process of cleansing. Each egg is individually loaded on a conveyor belt that takes the eggs into a chamber which houses a pair of soft whirling brushes. As the brushes gently scrub the outer shell a jet of cold water washes each egg then air dries it before setting it out onto a roller on the opposite end where the eggs are inspected and boxed. The process seemed very much like a car wash.
Most of the eggs fall into the size of medium-​large and most of the shells are brown in color depending on the breed of the hen. Occasionally Shelly will find an egg with a blue-​green shell. She includes those in the packing process as the outside shell color does not effect the inside of the egg. Odd shaped eggs and super-​sized double yolk eggs are not included in the packing but are sorted out. Shelly’s pasture-​raised eggs are sold to local markets and Whole Foods. She also sells her fresh eggs at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market in San Francisco on Tuesday and Thursdays, the Castro Farmers Market in San Francisco on Wednesdays, and the Brentwood and Danville Farmers Markets on Saturdays. The fresh eggs are sold for $ 6 per dozen and generally can be kept refrigerated for 1 to 2 months.
In addition to the eggs Shelly grows a wide assortment of fresh culinary herbs, several varieties of hot peppers and tomatoes on her farm. She generously allowed members of our group to take home as many of the different fresh herbs as we could use along with some freshly picked jalapeño and New Mex peppers. Most of our group took home big bouquets of assorted herbs. She also sold us some fresh eggs picked on the same day at a substantial discount. I couldn’t turn my back on that deal so I bought two dozen. The eggs have a darker red yolk and should not be hard-​boiled for the egg whites will stick to the shell due to its freshness.
Nothing to do on a rainy day you say? Don’t tell that to Shelly’s hens. Thanks to the McMahon Family for taking the time to host our group.