About

Why heritage breed?

Commercially raised chickens are Cornish cross, a fast-growing hybrid chicken. They are usually fed soybean meal and are butchered at 6-9 weeks of age. Cornish cross chickens beyond this age will have health issues of the heart, bones, muscles, and tendons, plus sores from sitting all the time. These chickens grow so fast that their legs eventually give out from their weight. Pasture raised Cornish cross, although healthier, being fed a more diverse diet, still can not usually be kept past 10 weeks. Do to this and being a hybrid, you can not breed these chickens and get more Cornish cross, chicks must be purchased from a hatchery.

Heritage breed chickens grow more slowly, allowing their bones and tendons to develop properly in proportion to their weight gain. They are typically butchered between 16 and 20 weeks of age. Unlike the Cornish cross, heritage breeds spend more time on their feet, foraging for insects and grass to supplement their diet. Dual-purpose chickens are heritage breeds suitable for both meat production and egg laying. Flocks can be maintained for breeding, reducing or even eliminating the need to rely on a hatchery.

How our chickens are raised

Chicks are ordered from a hatchery in the fall for delivery in the spring. Upon arrival, they are placed in a brooder until they are five weeks old. Then they are transferred to a mobile coop on pasture, which is relocated to fresh pasture weekly. Hens are separated and kept for breeding stock.

Their diet includes broiler feed, insects, and greens found in the pasture, along with kitchen scraps—excluding any raw meat. After they reach their target weight, usually between 16 and 20 weeks old, they are processed and frozen.

The final product

Whole frozen chicken. Ready for roasting, braising, slow cooking or smoking.

How to purchase

Current pricing is $4.00 per pound. Click contact us to arrange for a pick up at the farm.