Chickens
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A staple livestock on many farms, chickens are one of the first animals people decide to keep when interested in self sufficiency. With the capability to produce both eggs and meat, chickens also help fertilize gardens, keep bugs and other garden pests at bay, and can be quite entertaining!
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Their Purpose on the Farm:
At Island Hill Farm you will come across a variety of different chicken breeds. We raise both laying hens as well as meat birds, and the different species serve different purposes on the farm. We keep a handful of roosters on the farm to ensure we can breed our laying hens as needed.
Some of the breeds you'll see include: Rhode Island Red, Orpington, Speckled Sussex, Cream Legbar, Silkie, Cemani
Some of the breeds you'll see include: Rhode Island Red, Orpington, Speckled Sussex, Cream Legbar, Silkie, Cemani
Laying Hens:
Our laying hens include Rhode Island Reds, Orpingtons, Speckled Sussex, Cream Legbar, Silkies, and Cemani chickens
While we do hatch some of our own chicks, the majority of our laying hens are purchased from breeders around the island to ensure a regular supply of egg producing hens, and a limited amount of roosters! Different species of chicken lay different color eggs, and you can purchase our colorful farm fresh eggs at the Flory's Café and Market!
While we do hatch some of our own chicks, the majority of our laying hens are purchased from breeders around the island to ensure a regular supply of egg producing hens, and a limited amount of roosters! Different species of chicken lay different color eggs, and you can purchase our colorful farm fresh eggs at the Flory's Café and Market!
Meat Birds:
Our meat birds are purchased quarterly as day old chicks and raised on the farm using high quality Belisle chicken feed. We start the chicks on a high protein starter chick feed before transitioning them to a grower chicken feed which is slightly lower in protein.
During the first couple weeks, the chicks are raised indoors to protect them from the elements and predators such as weasel, rats, and birds, and to keep them warm and comfortable. After 2 to 3 weeks the chicks are slowly transitioned outdoors into a mobile chicken coop (or chicken tractor) where they have access to fresh grass, bugs, feed, and water. Within 8 to 10 weeks our meat birds grow to be 7 to 8 pounds each (much larger then grocery store fryer chickens!), and are then sent to be processed by Larkin Brothers.
You can purchase our farm fresh chickens, and chicken stock in the café and farm market as well!.
During the first couple weeks, the chicks are raised indoors to protect them from the elements and predators such as weasel, rats, and birds, and to keep them warm and comfortable. After 2 to 3 weeks the chicks are slowly transitioned outdoors into a mobile chicken coop (or chicken tractor) where they have access to fresh grass, bugs, feed, and water. Within 8 to 10 weeks our meat birds grow to be 7 to 8 pounds each (much larger then grocery store fryer chickens!), and are then sent to be processed by Larkin Brothers.
You can purchase our farm fresh chickens, and chicken stock in the café and farm market as well!.
Interesting Facts about Chickens:
- There are an unknown number of chicken breeds in the world.
- Like humans, chickens have full color vision and can see the same colors we see!
- A hens egg color is determined by genetics, generally Americaunas will lay blue or colored eggs (sometimes called easter eggers), Leghorns will lay white eggs, and Orpingtons will lay brown eggs.
- There are more chickens than any other species on the earth, and out number humans by about 4 to 1.