Pastured Eggs
We need a chicken that has some "chicken sense", that chases bugs, scratches in the mulch and pecks the dewy grass; one in which the natural instinct and behavior is preserved. For that reason we have selected New Hampshire Reds, a breed coming from the original Rhode Island Reds, a classic brown egg layer. They receive plenty of fresh air , sunshine and room to run and flap their wings just like chickens are "supposed to do". Our farm-fresh eggs have firm whites and orange yolks, just like the delicious ones Grandma served up for breakfast.
Unlike ruminants, chickens cannot live on grass alone. Besides what they can scrounge for themselves and the green grass, we offer plenty of organic, soy-free, GMO-free grain with an organic vitamin and mineral supplement, and kitchen fruit and vegetable scraps.
Our hens and roosters run together, making fertile eggs, which many claim to offer health benefits. No need to worry about our fertile eggs beginning to develop baby chickens- that takes many days of incubation at a constant warm temperature. We gather eggs every day (twice a day in summer), wash them and promptly refrigerate them. Blood spots occur only when the hen is stressed. We strive hard to maintain a healthy, stress-free environment for our animals, so customers don’t need to worry about finding blood spots on French Prairie Farm eggs.
Below you see the laying hens and roosters pecking on fresh grass. The birds live on grass and are moved to a fresh spot of pasture every few days. The manure is spread out that way, not concentrated in one area. This allows a more natural, environmentally friendly habitat. The grass gives elevated levels of CLA into the eggs. For more information about why grass is best, please also visit our What is Pastured? and Nutritional Advantages pages.
Behind the chickens you see our portable electric netting which surrounds the area in which the birds live. The netting has small enough divisions to keep the chickens inside the fence, and the height and electricity of the fence keeps predators out. Due to the portable nature of this fence, it is easy for Gerald to pick up and move when it is time to open up a new section of fresh pasture. The rotation of the poultry through the pasture spreads out the manure, encourages new plant growth by grazing then allowing to rest, and gives the chickens fresh tender grass instead of forcing them to eat only stalks if they were kept on the same patch of ground all the time. The chickens also get fresh air and sunshine by living out in the open.
To provide the need of more roosting space as the hens grew, Gerald purchased an old travel trailer which he and his dad repaired. They then mounted posts horizontally across the trailer for roosting space, and hung nesting boxes. The windows and skylight open for ventilation, and the birds have free access inside and out. The enclosed structure provides protection from rain, sun, and wind, plus gives the hens a spot to roost at night.
The "Hen-nebago"
To keep the manure from concentrating in one area, the “Hen-nebago” is moved frequently within the confines of the electric netting. Then, the entire netting with Hen-nebago moves to another area of pasture, thus preventing over-grazing and manure build-up. Unlike the commercial chicken houses that dot the Arkansas countryside which produce such foul odors that passing motorists can smell inside their vehicle from half a mile away, our chickens do not create air pollution. Visitors may walk out among them and never notice any smells other than fresh air and green grass.
Our hens lay eggs almost year-round, so grab a few dozen anytime you come to the farm or when you see us at a farmer's market!
