We raise a slow-growing meat bird (Freedom Rangers and Heritage Rocks) in pastured pens in the Polyface style.  These 12 by 12 foot pens hold 60 to 75 birds for 11 to 13 weeks (they are brooded for 21 days in warmth) and are moved twice daily to provide constant fresh salad underfoot.  Typically processed at 14 to 16 weeks, the birds weigh between 4 and 6 lbs, and have a much richer flavor, higher nutritional content and more proportional frame than the commercial Cornish/Rock cross.   One of our customers refers to a fresh, pastured bird as killer chicken because it is a taste unlike any they have had before.  We use NO antibiotics, feeding enhancers, animal by-products or artificial products or lights.  

AVAILABILITY:   Because they are raised on pasture, we begin running the pens in mid-April, with our first processing ranging from late June to mid-July through September.   

Muscovy Duck: 

We chose Muscovy ducks because of their naturally lower fat content, although they are a slower growing (and slower incubating) duck than all other breeds. At 12 weeks, hens reach 4 to 5 lbs and drakes typically are 6 to 7 lbs and are at their peak of tenderness.  Muscovies are good foragers, fulfilling up to 80% of their dietary needs.  

 

AVAILABILITY: Ducks are seasonal layers, but with a longer season than Guineas or Turkeys.  Since we incubate our own ducks, our peak season for fresh duck is late August to January.  We have frozen Muscovies available, and plan to process our first fresh ones for Christmas and Valentine's Day (2012).    

Guinea Hen:

 

In keeping with my husband's home country, we incubate and raise Helmeted Guinea Fowl from South Africa. Although all of our animals roam the farm in various protected ways, our guineas truly have free range (catching them is the challenge!)  Other than in the dead of winter, the guineas forage completely and do not choose to eat feed.   Adult guineas will be approximately 5 to 6 months old and will weigh between 3 and 4.5 lbs each.

 

AVAILABILITY:  Guineas lay seasonally, with a 4 week incubation. Adult guineas are ready for processing by September of the same year and are then available throughout the year.

 

Heritage Turkey:

 

Bourbon Reds and Narragansetts are hatched and raised on our farm. Our turkeys free roam (and roam widely) and eat very little feed. We estimate that the turkeys consume approximately 1/8 cup of organic feed daily, and primarily enjoy their access to the garden (once per week) and wandering in the woods around our farm. HeritageTurkeys are slow growing birds.  By Thanksgiving of the same year the hens are only 8 to 10 lbs, and toms are 12 to 14. To reach 18 to 24 lbs, they must be 18 months or older.        

AVAILABILITY:   For 2011, we are only raising Turkeys for Thanksgiving orders. 
WE ARE NOW TAKING THANKSGIVING TURKEY ORDERS, and have limited availability so order soon!  Click on the "Thanksgiving Turkey" link for all the details. 

         

 

 

Eggs (from Pastured Laying Hens):

 

We have 17 breeds of chicken, including Aeracanas (green egg layers) and ducks.  Our egg-layers are hatched on our farm and spend the spring, summer and fall in a movable wagon with portable, solar-powered electric fencing creating a 164-foot perimeter around them to keep them safe while they forage around the farm.  We supplement their forage with a custom-milled, organic feed and use NO antibiotics or chemicals.  

 

AVAILABILITY:  Year-round, with higher production levels when the days are longer (S/S/F).