MEAT CHICKENS 2024

Bred-for-meat chickens

NOTE: Having sold most of our meat birds live for several years, we’ll no longer be dressing them out for the public on a pre-order basis.

We plan to raise two batches of “real” meat chickens this year. After growing from downy fluffballs to fully feathered in a heated, protected brooder, they go outside in floorless pasture shelters to keep them safe from predators. The shelters are moved to fresh green grass daily. 

 
The first batch, Sunnyside Rangers, are red-feathered and descended from the Label Rouge chickens of France. Chicks should arrive May 29 and be ready for sale by August 24.

The second batch will be white Cornish Rocks arriving August 13 for sale to our Orthodox Jewish customers on Kapparot, October 11. Any extras will be available starting Saturday, October 12.

   Having access to green plants and fresh air, growing longer than grocery-store chickens, and being able to exercise give the chickens firm-textured, rich-flavored meat. The meat may even have a yellow tint from the carotene in the green grass and forbs the chickens consumed. Our meat chickens consume grain and are not certified organic.

   Our favorite way to cook them is to put a frozen whole chicken and a cup of water in the crockpot in the morning, turn it on high til mid-afternoon, then reduce it to low until needed. What could be easier than that!?        

stewing hens

These hens over a year old are available once the egg-laying season is over—the week before Thanksgiving. They vary in age, size, and color and are sold live. Some customers buy them for backyard layers, and some to make classic chicken soup. Sold live.

 PUREBRED SHOW CULLS

Our Hispanic customers love these big show birds that didn't win at the county and state fairs. They may be Rhode Island Red, Black Cochin, Cornish Game, Buff Orpington, Rhode Island Banties, or other breeds. Supply will be down drastically this year as our main supplier suffered serious health events last winter. Sold live only.

not-meat CHICKENS

Occasionally Leghorn pullets (young females) or cockerels (young males) are available which have been hatched by school classes in the area. We also hatch chicks from our own laying hens’ eggs, keeping the pullets for next year’s layers and selling the cockerels. They are slower growing and not as meaty as the Rangers and Rocks, but just as delicious and in-demand.

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