Do you think two chickens allocated a space equivalent to an A3 page are ”free to roam”?
“The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is suing Baiada (owner of the Steggles and Lilydale brands) and Turi (La Ionica brand) for allegedly misleading consumers with their claims that their chickens are free to roam – even if that may mean up to 20 chickens crammed into a square metre in a barn,” reports The Sydney Morning Herald.
Labelling is lax, feel-good marketing terms hide the ugly truth and self-regulation by industry means a myriad of certification. It’s just so much easier when you know your farmer.
Get to know one now; the onus is on you to research whether the chooks are well-raised to your standard.
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NSW
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Bega Valley Pasture-Fed Chicken is located at the Northern most tip of the Bega Valley, in Wandella. For the first three weeks of a chick’s life, the temperature must be closely controlled. They’re kept in a brooder, housing groups of only 250 chicks. Once the chicks are old enough to leave, they’re housed in groups of 85 in mobile pasture shelters that are moved daily. The green pasture is free from artificial fertilisers and pesticides. Their grass-based diet is supplemented with quality hormone-free, grain-based feed, kelp, minerals, other pro-biotic ingredients, insects found in the natural environment and clean water. Once mature, the chickens are transported to the local small-game abattoir in Bega where they are processed by hand.
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In 2012, Beth and Hayden McMillan have taken the reins from the Joliffe’s Burrawong pastured poultry business to create Burrawong Gaian located at Barraganyatti, north of Kempsey. They raise their chickens (up to 4,000 at any one time) from day-olds; they are free from hormones, chemical and antibiotics. They forage freely outdoors and are also corn-fed. The Joliffes hand process – bar the plucking machine – pack and distribute the chickens. They supply both the local and metropolitan market; they sell off-farm, at Hastings Farmers’ Markets, to local butchers and to Sydney and Brisbane.
Beth and Hayden McMillan’s farming methodology is an extension of the rotational pastured model popularised by Joel Salatin. Gaian Poultry is reared in an open range environment with the help of daily range pens and electric mesh taking the birds to new pasture. Other livestock are incorporated into the rotation to aid soil aeration as well as weed and parasite control.
Peter and Julie Clinch supply open-range organic chickens from their farm Oaks Organics, located at The Oaks, approximately 70km from Sydney.
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Thirlmere Poultry is grown by John Meredith (of 35 years’ experience) from the Southern Tablelands of NSW. The chickens are raised in a true free-range environment where they get plenty of sunshine, fresh air, and room to exercise. Contact the farm on 4681 8468 for your closest supplier.
VIC
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Russell Mickle’s Milawa Free Range chickens are slow-grown (10 weeks) from day olds in the Milawa Gourmet region of the Ovens Valley. The chicks are housed in brooder units until they can cope with external environmental variations. Once feathered (at about three weeks) they’re transferred to the paddock; each range area has a shelter set on 1.5 hectares of pasture. The shelters have custom built feeding and watering facilities and protect stock from low overnight and high day temperatures and nocturnal predators. Their pasture intake is supplemented by a high protein feed of mixed grain and spring water, free from chemical and animal by-product additives. You can buy direct from the farmgate at 15 Davison Place in South Yarra, or find them at farmers markets throughout Melbourne. Tip from @mindfulfoodie
Ian and Mandy McClaren raise Yapunyah Meadow Grazed Chickens on their farm “Yapunyah” in Central Victoria. Their farm is chemical free and managed holistically to improve the health of the soil, plants and animals. Their birds are moved onto fresh green grass daily, an essential part of a birds diet; they grow in natural sunlight and have access to clean fresh water and a custom grain blend.
QLD
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Fred and Sarah Sterns run Bendele Farm; they grow organic chickens on their farm in Kilkivan. They hand-process their birds, from the pens to the abattoir, to minimise stress. Call 07 5484 7157 or email for enquiries.
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Kia and Anthony Fermo’s chickens are free to forage on biodynamic pasture and engage in natural animal behaviour at Gordonvale, near Cairns. At night, they’re housed in mobile caravans which provide good protection from predators. These are moved on a regular basis so areas do not become over-grazed. Their diet of green grass is supplemented certified organic grain. BiO Chickens are grown, processed and distributed from the farm.
cc photo by Ed Townend.
Related Elsewhere
The Age: Ben Butler, Secrecy rules the roost, February 18, 2012
The Age: Ben Schneiders, Inside Baiada, dire picture of health, safety, November 21, 2011
Contribute: If you know a farm that should be here, email me at info AT flavourcrusader DOT com
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