Chicks have FINALLY arrived!
We are excited to finally have our first batch of broiler chicks growing in our brand new brooder!
For the last four years we raised chicks in four separate small brooders. We built them in 2019 when we raised 22 flocks of 30 broiler chickens per season. Last year we pivoted to a system in which we raised 5 flocks of 200 broiler chickens. This cut down on harvest labor for us and simplified things greatly.
Our original brooders: 4 separate enclosures with lids for protection
We want to raise more broiler chickens this year, so we needed to rebuild our four small brooders into one BIG brooder! Brian got to work on that project this winter and he was able to repurpose most of our existing materials into the new brooder.
Once the exterior was finished we prepared the bedding material: we like to put partially composted wood chips down as the first layer. This introduces good biologic activity, which is important for keeping the birds healthy. All of those good microbes help to break down the birds' waste and keep any harmful pathogens in check.
Then we top the wood chips with pine shavings. They are nice and dry and will soak up moisture, keeping the birds dry.
Next we scrubbed all of the water and feed troughs with bleach water to get them nice and clean.
Then we added furniture! Heat plates, water and feed troughs. The heat plates that we use are safer than a heat lamp. The birds huddle underneath of them with their backs up against the plate for warmth. Because they don't get nearly as hot as a heat lamp, there is less risk of fire.
Finally our chicks arrived and were introduced to their new home!
Our chicks come in the mail! When they arrive at the post office we receive a phone call to come and get them.
Each chick gets his first drink by dipping his beak in the water before being tucked under the heat plate, ensuring they know where the water and warmth is.
Their new home seemed a little bit big for them, so we arranged some hay bales inside to make it a bit more cozy for them!
These little guys are only 1 day old, but somehow they emerge from their eggshell ready to rock and roll! I'm always amazed at how they just know what to do without a mom to show them the ropes.
( click here to view a short video of their zoomies)
These cute little fluffballs will grow quickly - in 4 weeks they will be fully feathered little chickens and ready to live on pasture. After seven weeks on pasture, they will be ready for harvest.
The cuteness factor makes it hard to think of them as food - we get it. But it is one of those hard truths that we learn as informed eaters. If you know HOW your food is raised, then you have the opportunity to choose the methods that you want to support with your grocery money.
It is difficult sometimes for us, but we think it is important that we are giving them the best life we can while they are here. They aren't overcrowded and trapped inside a windowless building for their entire lives. They will spend their life doing what chickens do: scratching for bugs out in the sunshine.
We take pride that every chicken we raise for you to eat is a chicken that didn't have to suffer in a warehouse somewhere. That fact is the driving force that keeps us raising meat chickens. We strive every day for their best welfare.
If you buy pasture-raised chicken - THANK YOU!
Your purchase is how we slowly transform the agriculture system into a more humane one. We are encouragd by the number of people that we chat with at the farmers market who want humanely raised meat and are willing to put their money where their mouth is - literally!!
We'll be sure to send you an update when these little guys graduate to pasture living!
Your Farmers,
Jennifer & Brian
P.S. There are SIX vegetable CSA shares remaining! If one of them should belong to you...don't delay! We are happy to accept payments if you are unable to pay the full amount up front. Please email us with questions!