True Free Range Chickens
While swine are our main focus on the farm. Our chickens play a integral part in the running of things. While many call their chickens in coops or chicken tractors "free range". Our flocks are 100% true free range with free run of the property year round. They serve as bug control during spring, summer and fall. As well as year round cleanup crew behind the hogs. The majority of our flocks choose to roost outdoors 15-25 feet up in the trees year round.
As you can tell from the pictures we have many different breeds that make up our flocks. To us breed isn't as important as a good docile nature, hardiness, self sufficiency, and egg production. We have selectively kept and furthered our flocks to the point that they can get 90% of their own food during the warm months. As well as each hen producing a minimum of 5 eggs per week regardless of breed. Some of our more well known egg production breeds actually produce 2 eggs per day during summer. We have also introduced some "Game Hens" to our flock. While not very good layers, the "Game Hens" act as extra protectors for the flock. We have also gotten two successful hatches from our "Game Hens" in our first year of having them.
As you can tell from the pictures we have many different breeds that make up our flocks. To us breed isn't as important as a good docile nature, hardiness, self sufficiency, and egg production. We have selectively kept and furthered our flocks to the point that they can get 90% of their own food during the warm months. As well as each hen producing a minimum of 5 eggs per week regardless of breed. Some of our more well known egg production breeds actually produce 2 eggs per day during summer. We have also introduced some "Game Hens" to our flock. While not very good layers, the "Game Hens" act as extra protectors for the flock. We have also gotten two successful hatches from our "Game Hens" in our first year of having them.