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Poultry We presently have breeding flocks of Midget White turkeys, Delaware chickens, and Indian Runner ducks. All of these breeds are on the ALBC’s conservation list. Our poultry are free range, although the laying chickens do get shut into their homes at night to prevent predation. Chickens and turkeys receive a custom ration that contains no animal byproducts, growth hormones or antibiotics. Chicks and poults receive the same ration, but it is supplemented with organic fish meal to increase the percentage of protein. Our ducks prefer a commercial brand of unmedicated pellets, so that’s what we give them.
Over the years we have tried many different rearing practices, including chicken tractors and mobile homes. We now raise our meat chickens on pasture surrounded by electric poultry netting. Inside of this netting is a large open-ended hoop house for shelter. Our turkeys are housed in a more permanent structure that is open to the pasture. They can come and go as they please. These housing changes give the birds more room to range, reduce pasture compaction, spread manure over a wider range, and provide a valuable addition to the compost pile in the form of bedding. We do our own processing of chickens and turkeys on the farm. This reduces animal stress, guarantees humane treatment of the birds, and permits us to attain the quality that we desire. Our chickens and turkeys taste great. We are not alone in this thinking; Delaware chickens and Midget White turkeys are contained in the Slow Food US Ark of Taste.
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