Genuine Faux Farm
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Genuine Faux Farm |
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GFF Eggs Diet Chickens at the Genuine Faux Farm are pasture raised during the day and they roost in the barn at night. Birds are given a base diet mixed by a local producer (Frantzen Farms) who has organic certification. Their diet is supplemented by foraging and organic produce that is no longer fit for sale or distribution. We do not hatch our own chicks they have been purchased through the Decorah Hatchery. What it means to be Free Range (for us) We do not keep our birds in a 'chicken tractor' during the day, instead we use a 'day range' system. They are out in a pasture with fenced borders to keep them out of our gardens and to slow down potential predators. The laying hens are located in a permanent pasture that has some orchard trees. The birds go into a shelter at night. Chicks are an exception. To keep them warm and safe, they reside in a wooden, boxed in area with heat lamps. As they grow, we increase their space until they have some 'real' feathers. Then, they are free range. We may try to allow one of our ladies to raise her own clutch of chicks, but thus far, predators have prevented success in this area. Laying Flock The chickens (especially "the ladies" - laying hens) appreciate the shredded paper that we often use for bedding. If you are interested in seeing what they do in their spare time, please read this report by the Sudsbury Six in our October 2007 newsletter. If you are interested in the perspectives of our barnyard manager Bob R Ooster, please read his article in our September 2007 edition. Plans for 2011 The laying flock currently overnights in our barn. Unfortunately, the barn is nearing the end of its useful life. Thus, we are exploring new lodgings for the birds this year. (Unless someone wants to fix the barn for us) New in 2011 - We will have Egg Shares available during the regular season CSA. Take the link at the left for SHARE OPTIONS to read more. We have a small flock of laying hens and we do sell the eggs privately to individuals. We encourage people to prepay for a minimum of 5 dozen eggs, to be picked up on a one week, two week or three week cycle. Cost is $3.00 a dozen when you prepay for 5 or more dozen eggs at a time. Persons who enter this contract do so with the understanding that we cannot MAKE our chickens lay eggs on demand. We will distribute eggs as they are produced and we will responsibly accept contracts so that participants will rarely be asked to wait an additional week for eggs. We respectfully decline deliveries to persons outside of Tripoli, Waverly and Waterloo/Cedar Falls at this time. If you are willing to come to the farm or meet us in a location that is convenient for us, we will consider entering an egg contract with you. If we have extra eggs beyond our contracts, we will sell 'on demand' for $3.00/dozen. Interested in eggs? Please contact us.
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| 2/08/11 updated | photos copyright L.E.Bartel 2005 |
