Free Range Eggs

Our Flock
After several years interest in poultry, we started keeping hens in 2001. When they start laying, we get small pullet eggs – some of you may have noticed that we have a few double yolkers at this stage of lay.

We have 6000 hens in a purpose-built unit with 15 acres of grass for them to range over. They comply with teh Lion Quality and are certified by the RSPCA Freedom Food standards. They are fed on a G.M. free diet with no artificial colourants in the food to colour the yolk. For this reason, the yolk may appear paler than in some other eggs. The eggs we sell are very fresh - usually laid on the day of purchase or the day before.

We let them out every morning and shut them up at dusk, as Mr. Fox tends to like chickens for his tea! This is a big problem for us, despite a strong electric 9-strand electric fence – Mr. Fox still gets through!

When you drive past the farm, you may not see many hens out at one time. The chickens don't like bright sunlight and strong winds, and so range more in the evenings. On a wet day, you can tell how many have been out due to their muddy feet – they are still not house trained!

Food and water is all automated and moves around the hen-house regularly, with eggs laid in nest boxes which then roll onto a conveyor belt to help with collection.