Free-Ranged & Growth Hormone Free!
Our Brown Egg Layers & Meat Hen's/Roaster's are at
"Home on the (Free)Range!"
Our 8' X 12' Chicken coops are all SOLAR POWERED for both lighting and ventilation.
The coop pictured above is our Egg Layer's/Hen's home.
There is NO SOY or GLUTEN in their feed.
Our custom formulated layers mash primarily consists of:
Ground shell corn, ground ALFALFA hay and poultry minerals.
They love to be outside on our custom mix pasture grasses & legumes.
(Clover, Alfalfa, Orchard-grass & Rye-grass).
For a treat, they get fresh broccoli that has flowered or lettuce leaves.
They go nut's over sweet corn on the cob and whole sunflowers too!
In 2008/2009 we raised:
Barred Plymouth Rock Hen's
A more traditional breed
In the UK, USA, and Australia, Barred Plymouth Rocks are often among the top show award winners and utility Barred Plymouth Rocks are used in the make-up of many commercial laying hybrids.
The Barred Rock Hen is one of the all time popular favorites in this country.
Developed in New England in the early 1800's by crossing "Dominique's" and "Black Javas", it has spread to every part of the U.S. and is an ideal Brown egg/layer that are not discouraged by cold weather, which is perfect for where our farm in located in North/Central PA.
Their solid plumpness and yellow skin will make a beautiful heavy roasting fowl.
Our hen's have a narrow, clean barring so desirable in appearance.
Their bodies are long, broad, and deep with bred-in strength and vitality.
The chic's are dark gray to black with some white patches on their head and body, but by the time their 12 weeks old, they resemble the identifiable looks of the adult hen's, as seen below.
In late 2009, we added:
BUFF ORPINGTON HEN'S
A Heavy Layer/Meat Bird
The Buff Orpington breed is classified as a "heavy" breed. The hens get to be about 8 pounds. They are winter-hardy and do not stop laying during the short, cold days of winter. They lay big light pinkish brown eggs.
The breed originated in Orpington, Kent, United Kingdom in the late 1800's. There are Black Orpingtons, White Orpingtons, Blue Orpingtons (somewhat rare), and Buff Orpingtons like ours, here on The Kuhn Family Farm - the Buff color being the most prevalent. They are raised for the purposes of both meat and egg production (a "dual purpose" breed).
Their temperament is calm and friendly, as opposed to flighty, skittish or aggressive. I had read that in a flock containing different breeds of chickens, Buff Orpingtons were often "picked on" because of their relative docility. So when we knew we would only be able to have five birds, we decided all five should be Buffs, rather than a mixed flock. Here they are in the afternoon sun. Their coloring really looks golden in natural sunlight.
Try Our "Farm Fresh" Brown Egg's
$2.50/doz.
They're available at our
"On-Farm Store"
FREEDOM RANGER - ROASTER HEN'S
They are ideal "Fryer" & "Roaster" chickens. They have large breasts & thighs, yellow skin, and are easy to prepare for your family. We chose this breed due to specifically due to it's slow growth which eliminates many potential leg problems associated with "traditional" Roaster chickens. Most producers raise roasters that reach 4/lbs. maturity by 8 to 9 weeks of age. We feel this is too fast and this is the reason most roasters have leg and cardiac problems. Ours take an additional 3-4 weeks to reach maturity which gives the hen's leg's and heart's a chance to mature at a rate that will support their body weight which is 8-10/lbs. by 12-13 weeks. Just as with our layer hen's, our Meat Birds feed is SOY & GLUTEN-FREE. The primary ingredients are Ground Corn & Ground Alfalfa Hay.
Our 2014 Free-ranged Roaster Hen's
are NOW available!
for $2.45/lb.
we're processing 20-25 a week through October
Than we start TURKEY'S!!
see our "Store" page for details!!
They go quickly and ordering ahead of harvest time is recommended.
Don't delay, call us with your order TODAY!
Call or e-mail us NOW to reserve the quantity you want!
Our Freedom Ranger day-old chicks are hatched in the heart of the Pennsylvania Dutch Country. The breeding stock is imported from the regions of Burgundy and Brittany (France). The genetic stock is derived from the American and European old heritage breed of chicken and was developed in the early 1960’s to meet the highest standards of the French Label Rouge Free Range program. Currently, the Freedom Ranger genetic stock is used by most non-factory farm’s all across Europe and also by small pastured poultry producers in search of a traditionally raised farm chickens here in the U.S. They are a healthy breed, with a succulent flavor and texture.
Since our Freedom Ranger Roasters are a slower growing breed than the traditional “Factory Bred Broilers”, they are naturally better suited to full pasturing/free range, backyard etc.…). In the United States most modern poultry industrial production models use fast growing breeds (hybrid white synthetic Cornish crosses), those are the breeds most commonly associated with leg problems and premature death due to cardiac difficulty. Cardiac problems stem from the body of the bird growing faster than the internal organs and leg’s can handle.
Natural instinct and behavior is preserved in the selection and growing methods of our Freedom Rangers. It goes without saying that our birds love foraging in pastures, free ranging outside, always looking for natural sunlight and fresh air, as well as ground scratching and dust bathing.
J. M. Hatchery Inc. of New Holland, PA is our sole supplier of day old chicks. They strongly believe in traditional, sustainable, and environmentally friendly farming methods, and they are convinced that allowing the chickens to do what comes naturally (Free-range/Pasturing), ensures an incredible healthy meal for your table! Another reason we only purchase from J.M. Hatchery is because like us, they are believers in and followers of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God who will someday be revealed as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We have been created by Him for His glory and delight. By faith in His sacrifice for us on the cross, He has saved us from a life of sin and its awful consequences both now and in an eternal future. We believe God's Word, the Holy Bible, is the source of truth and wisdom. As we live in obedience to His commandments and in a daily living relationship with Him, we are blessed with amazing joy, peace, and abundant life. We have chosen to live out our faith and practice in the Anabaptist Mennonite faith. For more information on Mennonites and Anabaptists, log onto www.anabaptists.org.
Besides blessing us with a wonderful spiritual heritage, God has also blessed us with a wonderful family, of which many are involved in the work of JM Hatchery. We enjoy our work immensely and are in contact daily with some of the nicest customers on God's earth. Our sincere desire is that each of our customers would be blessed not only with material prosperity and a good experience with JM Hatchery, but by seeking and finding a living, eternal relationship with our Creator.
God bless you,
Joel & Marti Martin
Founders & Operators of JM Hatchery