Free-Ranged Poultry
We are currently not raising any meat birds, however we have limited inventory left to sell.
The “Meaties”
Between laying hens and meaties, the chicken math is for real folks! We can’t honestly tell you the exact number of chickens that are currently on the farm but it is a lot… and keeps growing!
We started our first batch of broiler chickens (we call them meaties) back 2010. In fact we actually arrived home from our honeymoon and the following week it was time to butcher those chickens. Until most recently every time we raised a batch of meaties we always raised a breed called Cornish X. In January 2019 we had been reading a few things and decided to changed things up a bit and we are so glad that we did. Since then we’ve only been raising a breed called Freedom Rangers, whom we purchased from the Freedom Ranger Hatchery in Lancaster, PA. We selected this variety for exactly as the Freedom Ranger Hatchery describes them…
“Perfect for free range environments, these tri-colored or red feathered chickens grow to 5-6 lbs in just 9-11 weeks. Our Freedom Ranger brand of broiler chicks are a great alternative to fast-growing white broiler chicks or slow-growing heritage breeds. Freedom Ranger chicks grow at a moderate rate, reaching their peak weight of 5-6 lbs in 9 to 11 weeks. These active, robust chicks are suitable for free range, foraging and pasture environments and produce tender, succulent meat with more yellow omega 3 fat and less saturated fat than fast growing breeds.”
Once we receive the peeps in the mail we then keep them in the existing milking parlor until we feel that they are big and strong enough to withstand outdoor elements and possible predators. Their home is then one of our mobile chicken coops (as shown above). These coops give them the ability to free range around the pasture but to also have access to feed and water daily.
Turkeys
2018 was our first attempt of raising turkeys, and it utterly flopped. Thankfully, a neighbor who has turkey barns was kind enough to give us some advice and we are attempting to raise Broad Breasted White Turkeys again this year. The turkeys are raised in the same manner as the meaties. They start off in the milking parlor and then are moved to their own pastured area with coop. We will only be raising one batch of turkeys each year, with them being ready just in time for Thanksgiving.
