Since the beginning of the farm, chickens have played an important role. What started as a soil improvement program (chickens do a great job fertilizing) developed into an egg business and most recently into a breeding program that will provide chicks to the region.
Over the years I have raised many different breeds of chickens, mostly for eggs, some for meat. The first few years I had at least 12 different kinds of laying hens to see what fit best on the farm. I like hens that are good foragers of some of their own feed (or course supplemented with organic grain), calm, good egg producers and of heavier body type in order to provide yet another gift at the end of their productive time as a laying hen: a stewing hen. Typically I have found the non hybrid, standard bred poultry to work best in my system.
In thinking about long term sustainability for my farm I chose the Black Australorp as my breed due to their calm nature, good egg production, excellent foraging. The older hens will make great stewing hens due to their large size. The young roosters will also provide meat. I invested in an incubator and hatcher and high quality breeding stock -in the spring of 2015 my first Australorp chicks were sent from Pat Whitaker of Forest Farm in North Carolina. Pat is well known for her productive and beautiful Australorps as well as her generous sharing of expertise.
More recently I have had the pleasure of partnering with several other knowledgeable poultry breeders to produce locally hatched chicks for our region. For detailed information about our work and how to purchase our chicks please visit:
Visit Peninsula Poultry Breeders website.
Currently available for purchase are eggs from the hens out on pasture (my hens have a great amount of pasture as you can see below). The hens are fed a certified organic mash. Eggs are available at the farm only. Call ahead for availability as they go fast!
UPDATE FOR 2022 SEASON. This year I will not be selling chicks as it is a year for me to re-build my flock after needing to take the past year off due to knee surgery. I have added BBS (Blue, Black and Splash) Australorp chicks this year and hope to have enough of them to sell for hatching season 2023. Check back in January 2023.
I do not sell meat at this time -it all goes for farm use.
One of my first breeding groups of Australorps. Each season brings new breeding goals for continuous improvement.