The Chickens
We operate a very transparent business because we are extremely proud of the high quality of care we give our livestock. How many farms or food producers operate so openly? We have nothing to hide and only want to brag about the life we provide for the chickens. Happy hens produce tasty eggs that nothing else compares to!
A red star hen
Chicks
Our chicks’ journey starts in a hatchery. We do not hatch our own chicks as it is more cost efficient to purchase them already hatched, plus hatcheries give the option of only ordering female chicks. We only want females because male do not lay eggs! After trying many hatcheries in the United States, Murray McMurray in Webster City, IA is hands down our favorite. From customer service, to shipping practices, to quality of chicks; McMurray is a business we are proud to support. Chicks are shipped from the hatchery via the USPS.
Ameraucana chicks still in their shipping box from the hatchery
Chick Care
From the moment the chicks are taken out of their shipping box we give them the very best care. Each chick is individually taken out of the box and hand watered. The water provided to the chicks for the first 6 weeks is boosted with extra vitamins and minerals. Once the chicks drink a little they are placed in a brooder. A brooder is a man made structure used for raising chicks and other poultry. Chicks need a brooder that is 95-100 degrees for the first two weeks, after that the temperature is decreased by 5 degrees until the chicks feather out at approximately 6 weeks of age.
Pullets
When a chick gets it’s feathers at around 6 weeks of age then the term ‘chick’ no longer applies. Similar to an infant transferring into a toddler. Pullet is the term for a female chicken under one year of age. Once the chicks become pullets they are moved from the brooder to a mobile coop out on pasture. They stay separate from the main flock until 15 weeks old, then they are merged with the main flock. At around 20 weeks of age the pullets will start laying eggs. This timeline depends on the breed. Some breeds start as early as 16 weeks!
Laying Hens
After a female chicken celebrates her first birthday she is called a hen. Our hens live at the farm until they are two years old. Once a hen reaches this age they do not lay enough eggs to earn their keep. So then they are sold to other farmers or members of the community and raised for weed/insect control, pets or slaughtered. A two year old hen is going to on the tough side so most folks refer to them as stew hens as the meat is perfect for chicken noodle soup.
