Chickens

Chickens are bought from a hatchery as day olds. We mostly use a breed called Ross but we also use Hubbard. At this stage heat is very important and the young chicks are put under infra red lights. Straw from the farm is used for bedding. The chickens are fed on an organic starter crumb and have a good clean supply of water at all times. At three to four weeks, depending on the weather, the birds are given access to green pasture. They are free to go out and graze and eat bugs etc as nature intended them to do. They may come in doors as they please. At this stage the birds' diet is changed to an organic grower/ finisher pellet. They are now fully feathered, hence there is a reduction in the heat requirement that is necessary.

From 81 days the chickens are fit to be slaughtered under Organic rules. The chickens are loaded individually into straw bedded comfortable crates and are transported to the abattoir that we use which is in Ballon in county Carlow, a trip of about forty minutes. We ensure that the birds are handled carefully with as little stress as possible.

Throughout their lives the birds are treated with the upmost care and attention. We see our chickens unloaded at the abattoir and so we have control over how they are handled and treated to the very end.

We take back oven ready chickens and chicken portions to the farm where they are weighed and recorded and dispatched to their destinations. We also receive back the organic chicken livers from the birds and this is also available for sale.