SUSTAINABLE FOODS TO ENRICH YOUR LIFE
SUSTAINABLE FOODS TO ENRICH YOUR LIFE
IN 1940, GEORGE ELLIS OF DELAWARE CREATED THE DELAWARE BRED OF CHICKEN BY CROSSING BARRED PLYMOUTH ROCK ROOSTERS AND NEW HAMPSIRE HENS. WHAT CAME OF THIS CO-MINGLING WAS A HEARTY BREED OF CHICKEN THAT WAS A GREAT DUAL PURPOSE BREED PRODUCING OUTSTANDING MEAT AND EGGS. THEY QUICKLY BECAME THE PREFERRED POULTRY OF CHOICE ACROSS THE EAST COAST OF THE U.S.
DRIVEN BY CONSUMER DEMAND AND INDUSTRY NEED FOR BIRDS THAT GREW BIGGER AND FASTER, THE DELAWARE WAS REPLACED BY THE CREATION OF THE CORNISH CROSS CHICKEN IN THE LATE 1950'S, WHICH IS THE CHICKEN THE U.S. HAS GROWN UP EATING
THE DELAWARE IS A SUSTAINABLE BREED OF POULTRY THAT BREED TRUE, MEANING 2 DELAWARES WILL CREATE A TRUE DELAWARE.
THE COMMON ALTERNATIVE, THE CORNISH CROSS, DOES NOT BREED TRUE AND MUST BE PURCHASED FROM SELECT HATCHERIES WHO HAVE TO MANAGE THE GENETICS OF THE BIRDS FOR DESIRED OUTCOMES.
DELAWARE CHICKENS PROVIDE BOTH DELICIOUS MEAT AND EGGS. DELAWARE HENS CAN LAY UP TO ABOUT 200 EGGS ANNUALLY.
THE ALTERNATIVE CHICKEN DOES NOT LIVE LONG ENOUGH TO PRODUCE EGGS , AND IT'S SOLE PURPOSE IS FOR MEAT.
DELAWARES ARE A HEARTY BREED THAT DO WELL IN BOTH COLD AND WARM CLIMATES. THEIR LIFESPAN IS ABOUT 5-7 YEARS, DEPENDING ON THE QUALITY OF CARE.
THE ALTERNATIVE , CORNISH CROSS, CAN EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANT HEALTH PROBLEMS RELATED TO THEIR SKELETAL SYSTEM AND INTERNAL ORGANS AT A VERY YOUNG AGE, DUE TO THEIR GENETICS THAT MAKE THEM GROW FASTER THAN THEIR BONES AND BODIES CAN KEEP UP WITH. IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR CORNISH CROSS TO EXPEIRENCE BROKEN BONES OR HEART DISEASE PRIOR TO PROCESSING.
OUR FARM RAISES OUR CHICKENS IN SMALL FLOCKS WITH PLENTY OF ROOM FOR THEM TO FORAGE FOR BUGS, ENJOY THE FOREST, AND LIVE IN A NATURAL SETTING. THE DELAWARE TRADITIONALLY IS A BIRD THAT DOES BEST IN FOREST TYPE SETTINGS, AND NOT CONFINED TO A COMMERICAL CHICKEN WAREHOUSE, TRACTOR OR COOP.
ALTERNATIVELY, THE CORNISH CROSS DOES WELL IN A CHICKEN TRACTOR AS THEY ARE GENERALLY NOT FORAGERS. THEIR LARGE BODIES CAN MARKE IT HARD TO MOVE AROUND, AND THEY SPEND MOST OF THEIR TIME EATING.
THE DELAWARE IS A GENTLE BREED OF CHICKEN WITH A FRIENDLY DISPOSITION. THEY ARE SMART, CURIOUS, AND LOVE TO PLAY IN THE WOODS. THE ROOSTERS TEND TO BE GENTE AS WELL, YET THEY ARE PREDATOR SAVY AND TAKE CARE OF THEIR GIRLS.
THE DELAWARE TAKES APPROXIMATELY 16 WEEKS TO BECOME A TABLE READY SIZE. THEY TEND TO BE LEANER AND HAVE LESS FAT AS WELL AS DARKER MEAT WITH A RICH AND DESIREABLE CHICKEN FLAVOR. BECAUSE THEY GROW NATRUALLY, THEY HAVE A HIGHER BONE TO MEAT RATIO THAN THE CORNISH CROSS, WHICH MAKES THEM PREFERRED FOR MAKING NUTRIOIUS BONE BROTH. THEY ARE EXACTLY WHAT A CHICKEN IS SUPPOSED TO BE.
THERE ARE OTHER DUAL PURPOSE HERITAGE BREEDS OF CHICKENS THAT MAKE WONDERFUL FLOCKS AND A GREAT END PRODUCTS AS WELL, BUT WE HAVE CHOSEN TO FOCUS OUR EFFORTS TO THE DELAWARE. UNTIL JULY 2023, THEY WERE STILL ON THE NATURE CONSERVANCY LIST AS A THREATENED OR WATCH STATUS. HAPPILY, BECAUSE OF EFFORTS TO HELP BRING THIS BREED BACK, THE STATUS HAS NOW MOVED TO "RECOVERING".
1 DZ: $36 2 DZ: $66 3 DZ: $90
AVAILABLE MAY-OCT
STRAIGT RUN ONLY:
1-5 CHICKS; $4.40 EACH
6-10 CHICKS: $4.20 EACH
11-15 CHICKS: $4.00 EACH
AVAILABLE APRIL-AUG
8 WK OLDPULLETS: $30
12 WK OLD PULLETS: $35
16 WK OLD PULLETS: $45.00
COCKRELS ALSO AVAILABLE AT A REDUCED RATE
AVAILABLE MARCH-DEC
CHICKEN HARVESTING WORKSHOPS ARE HELD THROUGOUT THE YEAR ON THE FARM. COME HELP US PROCESS OUR BIRDS AND GET 2 HRS DIRECT INSTRUCTION. PLUS, WE WILL SEND YOU HOME WITH YOUR VERY OWN CHICKEN TO COOK AT HOME. FEE IS $25 PER PERSON, 3 PERSON LIMIT PER TRAINING. DATES TBA
ARE YOU NEW TO CHICKEN FARMING AND WANT TO LEARN THE INS AND OUT, BEST PRACTICES, AND HOW TO MANAGE YOUR FLOCK ECONOMICALLY AND REALISTICALLY?
SITE REVIEW PLANS: $250
1-1 COACHING. FTF: $75 PER HR
PHONE CONSULTATION: $40 PER HR
Have a question or comment? Contact us today and we'll be happy to help. CALL 828-669-3649 OR EMAIL US AT HEIRLOOMANNIE@GMAIL.COM
We love our customers, so feel free to visit during normal business hours.
2428 North Carolina Highway 9, Black Mountain, North Carolina 28711, United States
Mon | 12:00 pm – 05:00 pm | |
Tue | Closed | |
Wed | 12:00 pm – 05:00 pm | |
Thu | 12:00 pm – 05:00 pm | |
Fri | 12:00 pm – 05:00 pm | |
Sat | 10:00 am – 05:00 pm | |
Sun | 10:00 am – 02:00 pm |