Farming Practices

 

Laying Hens 

Fed a soy-free, non-GMO feed by H and H feed and rotated on fresh pasture using mobile electric netting by Premier 1. We use solar chargers to keep the netting hot which protects the birds from predators. We also keep at least one rooster with the flock for added protection. The coops we use are mobile coops coined "Chickshaw" by Justin Rhodes. We have two of these, one is larger and I probably wouldn't do that one again. The standard size is great, very mobile and has been through many storms and the birds and coop have done well.

Pastured Pigs

Fed a soy-free, non-GMO feed by H and H feed and rotated on fresh pasture using mobile electric netting by Premier 1. We use solar chargers to keep the netting hot which keeps them where we want them.  They do a wonderful job of tilling and destroying weeds, as well as fertilizing. We have a mobile shelter for the pigs as well, but it is a terrible design so I don't want to recommend it to anyone. It does do the job but it is difficult to move.

Pastured Meat Chickens

Fed a soy-free, non-GMO feed by H and H feed and kept in a brooder for two to three weeks, depending on the weather. Once they are big enough and the weather is nice, we put them on pasture in a mobile chicken tractor. The chicken tractors are Salatin-style pens. One is 10ft by 10ft and we have two others that are 4 ft by 8 ft. We mostly use the large one. It is not easily moved, but it can be done with a little extra oomph. They are moved to fresh grass everyday. We use Premier1 poultry netting around the perimeter of the tractor since a fox decided to feast on 41 little chickens one night. You can never be too careful because everyone likes chicken. We process our birds on the farm to minimize stress due to transport and to control the butchering practices. 

Bees

We feed bees a syrup with organic sugar and water in the fall and winter months when there is limited forage available to them. We never use pesticides and rarely use smoke. We mostly let our bees be bees. We will harvest honey only if they have extra to share. We process honey through a fine mesh cheesecloth, without heat.