Eggs

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In the same way as we practice rotational grazing with our cattle, we also practice a more free-range version of rotation with our chickens. Their coop is mobile, and as the cows move throughout the fields, we pull the coop behind them so that the chickens have access to all the bugs that get stirred up in the wake of cattle. With the ability to move freely throughout our pastures and silvopastures, the hens have unlimited access to fresh forage (think grasses and clovers, leaves and flowers, blackberries and seeds) and can use their instincts as natural bug-predators to chase down things like grasshoppers and grubs.

Much like the chickens, our small flock of ducks free range in the most natural environment they can get—up and down the two creeks that run through our property. Their mobile house can be moved along the creek or into the orchard as needed, where they feast on all variety of water plants, snails, and silvopasture forages.

In addition to their natural diet, our hens and ducks are free-fed Modesto Milling's organic, soy-free, corn-free layer feed, along with Redmond Salt, organic kelp, crushed eggshells and oyster shell for calcium, and grit. The birds get to pick and chose what they need each day, which keeps them happy and healthy for years. From the moment we get them as chicks and ducklings, our animals are never fed medicated feed and we go beyond the organic guidelines to give them the best life possible.

As the birds benefit from this lifestyle, so do their eggs! The ideal balance of green material, protein, carbs, and minerals in these self-selected diets results in beautiful, deep-yellow yolks, gelatinous whites, and strong shells. We can see and taste the difference from comparable products in stores and know you’ll be able to, too.

One big part of our egg program is that we love to recycle! We take back our egg cartons and used store egg cartons and reuse them for as long as possible. It’s a small thing, but one more way we try to be good to the earth in our farming practices. Likewise, our chickens like to recycle! We feed them back their own crushed eggshells as a calcium supplement—the hens eat what they need and leave the rest. If you’re so inclined, we‘d love to get your empty shells back with the carton when you pickup your fresh eggs. Most of our customers find it easiest to put the shells straight back into the carton and then bring the whole thing back like a little gift to us.