Fall Pullets: 2022

 Our pullets ('teenager'  hens, usually 2 months old) are fully feathered and ready for your outdoor coop. We find this age is best for both you and the pullet. They are young enough to be a pet and old enough to survive without special attention such as a heat lamp. Also, roosters are easily discernible at this age, so you know that you are bringing home a pullet and not a rooster.  It's generally best to give them a month in a separate enclosure before you introduce them to older hens. They are old enough to go out into a run but try to make sure i's covered (lightweight blueberry netting is fine) to protect against hawks. Always make sure they are safely locked in the coop at night due to nocturnal predator risks.  

We recommend that your pullets be fed a "Non-medicated" starter/grower crumble feed until they are 4 months old. After that, switch to layer feed. Our  hens prefer "crumble" feed as opposed to pellets. Your pullets should start laying around 5 - 6 months of age. You may want to supplement their diet with crushed oyster shells (available from feed stores), fresh kitchen fruit & vegetable scraps (but no avocados!) and meal worms. Our hens especially enjoy tomatoes, lettuce, watermelon and strawberries.  

All our chicks are from an NPIP (National Poultry Improvement Program) hatchery certified to be Avian Influenza and Salmonella free. We raise them from two-day-old chicks with plenty of TLC on our farm. All have been Marek’s Disease and Coccidiosis vaccinated.  Use pine shavings in your coop and nesting boxes. Cedar shavings can cause respiratory problems.  Straw can become a habitat for mites.

We generally have pullets available for sale but quantities are limited. Be sure to pre-order if you are interested in a particular date or special breeds. Some of our favorite breeds to raise are Barred Rocks, Ameraucanas, Black Australorps, Buff Orpingtons, Black Stars, Cinnamon Queens, Delawares, Red Stars, Cochins, Marans, Welsummers, Olive Eggers and Silver Laced Wyandottes. We also have Guinea fowl available in August.