Minnesota winters make raising chickens a challenge because short winter days do not provide the full 12 hours of sunlight chickens need each day to lay an egg. Despite that difficulty, almost every farm in Minnesota had chickens by 1880, and eggs provided an important and consistent food source families could rely on. Continuing demand for chicken and eggs means many heritage breeds of chickens can still be seen on farms today. These chickens are fed corn, also eat leafy greens, may forage for insects, and enjoy clover and dandelion leaves as a treat.