“The Australian Egg Corporation, which represents most egg farmers, this week sent new draft standards to producers, which would allow a free-range egg farm to run as many as 20,000 chickens per hectare,” reported The Land.
What the!?!
Three producers—Novo, Pace Farm, Manning Valley—dominate the egg industry; they account for well over half the free-range eggs sold in Australia. Some come from flocks of up to 120,000 birds. The happy chickens on pasture printed on the label of many supermarket free-range brands are only that. Printed on the label.
Industry is keen to streeeetch the limits of what “free-range” is. There is no enforceable common standard to ensure the animals have been near a paddock (let alone a blade of grass).
So what’s to do?
There are many animal welfare certification bodies, however the most rigorous standards are provided by organic certification and Humane Choice; these would meet consumer expectations of free range farming.
Alternatively, know your farmer.
To start, here’s a list of small-scale family-owned poultry farms.
Contribute: If you know a farm that should be here, email me at info AT flavourcrusader DOT com
NSW
Glen and Mardie Gray produce 12 Good Eggs on 50 acres that fronts the magnificent Murray River, east of Barham. Their girls roam the paddock enjoying the country air, Barham sunshine and shady Red Gums; their food and water is all outside. Electric netting and Maremma dogs keep them safe. They sleep and lay in caravans that are shifted twice weekly.
Anne and Warren Stuckey of Berrima Ridge move their chickens regularly over 50 acres of pasture and olive grove. They sleep in five mobile hen houses, each protected by a Maremma dog. 
John and Estelle Joseph watch their chickens scratch in the mulch piles, mow the green grass shoots and take luxurious dust baths on their 240 acre property called Brigadoon. The chickens live in a mobile house that is moved around the paddocks every few days. They eat mixed wholegrains and minerals to complement their wild diet. No chemical medications, toxic insecticides nor chemical washing of eggs.
Inspired by Joel Salatin’s teachings, Fiona and Adam Walmsley began to work seven hectares on a former dairy farm, home to Fiona’s parents. Now Buena Vista Farm in Gerringong produces pastured eggs; from 210 laying hens, housed in a mobile chicken caravan. They’re available to buy at the farm-gate or at various farmers’ markets.
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Paul and Virgnia Kurtz of Oberon have been operating Cowobbee Pastoral Company biodynamically for 20 years. Their daughter Tammy also helps to run the company and manage a second property. They produce Demeter certified eggs.
Rachel and Matt Fahey put their chickens to work in Dharma Gardens, Heathcote; they contribute with pest control, soil balance and weeding. Besides green pick, their eat organic meal, fruit and vegetable scraps. Their philosophy is simple. Healthy food=healthy people=healthy communities. They’re available from Bendigo WholeFoods and Barrack Reserve farmers’ market.
Brothers Hugh and David Trevor-Jones are fourth generation farmers at Hayters Hill, a 120 hectare mixed farm just five minutes from Byron Bay. Their 2000 chickens are systematically rotated on pasture with plenty of room to move.
The 10,000 or so hens of Ian Littleton’s Clarendon Certified Organic Free Range Egg Farm follow the natural rhythms of a wild hen‘s year. There’s a reduction of egg laying in autumn and winter; there is no artificial light nor beak trimming. An electric fence and Maremma dogs protect them from predators. The farm even has it’s own retirement paddock where hens past their laying prime reside.
Kerry Marshall runs Cornucopia Bio-dynamic Farm, situated at Lostock Dam on the Paterson River. The chickens roam freely throughout the day, sheltering at night in their ‘mobile homes’. Every few days the homes are pulled to fresh pasture, ensuring the chickens a constant supply of fresh green pick. Their feed is supplemented by certified organic grain. Their eggs are sold in Sydney and Maitland/Newcastle.
The Steele family run Isa browns that roam chemical-free paddocks at Forest Reefs, near Orange. They’re kept safe from predators by electric fencing and Maremma dogs. They lay and roost in a mobile sheds and eat fresh green feed and certified organic mash. Egganic eggs are available from farmers’ markets and sold direct to Sydney restaurants and delicatessens. Tip from @UrbanGreenSpace
The Fergusson Family In Dunedoo produce Farmer Browns Pastured Eggs. Pastured hens live entirely unrestricted in an 85 hectare paddock adjoin a large area of protected woodland . The hens lay their eggs by day in mobile sheds and perch there comfortably night. Maremma dogs protect them. They are happy and healthy and their eggs are delicious!
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Graeme and Anne Barwise of Free as a Bird have approximately 300 birds housed in mobile sheds on their Tooradin farm. During daylight hours the birds have full access to lush, green pastures; they can dust bathe and are free to graze naturally. They’re fed chemical-free grains. The farm used as a learning environment for students from the Berengarra School.
Got a photo? Send it to me at info AT flavourcrusader DOT com
Ray, Eden and Jason Bruessow produce Glenrose Biodynamic Eggs in Findon Creek near Kyogle. The hens are free to range unrestricted on the farm with constant access to biodynamic grain and lush pasture. Milk from their Jersey cows is curdled and fed to the hens daily.
Sam and Prue Pincott produce Holbrook Paddock Eggs on their 518 hectare property “Kameroo” located near Holbrook. Their 2600 Isa brown hens roost and lay their eggs in portable sheds which are moved onto fresh pasture twice weekly; they’re free to roam the paddock with unlimited access to fresh grass, bugs and grubs. Two Maremma dogs protect them from predators as they are never locked up.
Brian or Kerry Wehlburg at Kindee Valley Farm—located on the Mid North Coast, inland from Port Macquarie and Wauchope—continual move their animals onto fresh pasture to rejuvenate the pasture and sequester carbon in the soils. Chicken manure improves the grass for the cattle. The cattle trample organic matter into the soils to mulch and fertilise the paddocks. The pigs control weeds, aerate and fertilise the soil.
Mayfield Farm is situated on the edge of the Dorrigo Plateau. Ian and Sandra’s flock of Plymouth Rock hens and roosters are free to dust bath, run, fly, scratch and hunt for insects, grubs and bugs. They’re fed a mix of corn, wheat and sunflower seeds morning and evening and have access to shell grit, Calgrit and seaweed meal throughout the day. As darkness approaches they’re locked up to ensure safety from predators.
Therese and Andre Hearne’s Near River Produce is based on the mid North Coast. A flock of black Australorp hens—with a few Aruacanas thrown in for good measure—spend their days ranging around the market garden paddock, foraging on the bugs, grubs and grasses that take their fancy, along with the organic grain based feed in their run.
Peter and Julie Clinch supply open-range organic eggs from their farm Oaks Organics, located at The Oaks, approximately 70km from Sydney.
Tim and Tracy Zanker and their three sons of Organic Ways are based in Bowraville in the Nambucca Valley on the mid-North Coast. Guarded by Maremma dogs, the chickens scratch around on organic pastures during the day and at night they’re housed in movable coops. Their diet is supplemented with a special porridge of full cream milk (from their small herd of dairy cows) and organic wheat.
Two generations of the Cripps Clark family rear 5,000-6,000 laying hens for Organigrow eggs, near Lismore. The hens are protected from predators by shady trees, bird netting, electric fencing and Maremma dogs and housed in movable shelters. They have access to green peck; they eat lots of grass, insects, leaves, supplemented by certified organic vegetarian grains.
Chickens make an important contribution to Old Mill Road BioFarm; they clean out crops, eat bugs, fertilise the ground and provide eggs for the market. They’re contained by an electrified mesh to keep foxes, dogs and goannas out. It also allows Fraser Bayley and Kirsti Wilkinson to give their chickens fresh ground regularly, which is essential for their wellbeing.
Oxhill Organic Farms was founded by brothers Daniel and Evan O’Brien, in partnership with Chris Eggert. The Wauchope certified organic farm has 1800 laying hens that are free to roam; they’re moved to fresh grass every two days. The hens are fed a fresh porridge mix; the grains are cracked and mixed with organic milk from the on-farm dairy.
Papanui is located near Merriwa in the Upper Hunter Valley. Their chickens are open range; they’re not contained by fences or ever locked up. They follow a large herd of beef cattle in a planned rotational grazing regime. Each school bus shelter houses 500 hens, protected by Maremma dogs. Retired layers are sold to local families. A commercially produced layer ration supplements their feed. Tip from Carolyn.
Helen and Dennis Smith have 2,500 hens at their Temora farm located in the Riverina. They have an open door policy; anyone is welcome to visit to see them. The hens have sheds with laying boxes, perches, feed (to supplement their range diets) & water. Smith’s Free Range Eggs are collected weighted, packed, marketed and distributed by the Smiths. Tip from @bizzylizzycooks
Michele and Andy Peverill of Happy Chook Company farm 2,000 hens on their 10 acre property near Parkes. The hens are free to roam; they’re never locked up. Their housed in sheds, lit for 12-14 hours during mid-winter and cooled with fans during summer. Every 12 weeks the sheds are cleaned and the hens moved to allow the pasture to recover. Tip from @AlisonFairleigh.
Derek and Fiona Smith’s Working with Nature farm is situated near Guyra in the New England Tablelands. Their 1000-1500 are fed a grain mix, mineral and protein feeds plus any amount of green grass, herbs, fresh shoots and insects the girls find. The sheds are moved around daily. Maremma dogs protect them from foxes, snakes, eagles and hawks.
VIC
On 400 acres of farm land in Lietchville, Elliot Fehring’s moveable hen house closely travels the wake of a grazing dairy herd, The chooks feast on grubs, scratching the soil and spread their manure on the pasture, enriching the soil as they go. Two Maremma pups guard the feathery procession from marauding foxes day and night.
At Al Yanna, a farm located at St Arnaud, Catriona and Robert Thoolen teach their layers to scratch, dust bathe, hunt for bugs and sunbake. A lot of them are “rescues”, hens bought from the large commercial growers at the end of their first season. They now head up to 500 metres away from their mobile shed, under the watchful eyes of Bella and Peter, their Maremma guard dogs.
Brendon and Kate of Daylesford Organics believe that producing food comes with a great deal of responsibility to the consumer, to the environment and to future generations. Their eggs are laid by hens roaming over 55 acres of organic farm. Their chickens live in mobile sheds that are moved around small paddocks regularly, they are guarded from predators by Maremma guard dogs.
Elderslie Organics is a 120ha farm producing organic eggs and milk. Run by the Wallace family they’re located in the town of Ellinbank. The hens lay eggs in old caravans parked around the dairy paddock. Maremma dogs guard the hens and travel everywhere with their allocated vans of hens. No artificial chemicals and fertilisers are used.
Phil Westwood’s Freeranger Egg Farm at Grantville, near Phillip Island is home to 1,200 hens. They run in flocks of 200 – 300 in separate paddocks; each flock has a mobile roosting shed with laying boxes and is protected by a Maremma dog. The chickens eat a mash of natural grains (no meat meal nor colouring additives) and have all-day access to pastures.
Gippsland Free Range Eggs is from the foothills of the Great Dividing Range, a small settlement known as Glengarry West. The hens are pasture-fed and free to roam; their supplementary diet consists of natural grains and seeds. Three Maremma dogs keep them safe from foxes and wedge tail eagles. Because the dogs live in the paddock with the chooks there is no need for the chickens to be locked up.
Hens of Hallora is a small scale free range egg farm in West Gippsland run by Tania Murray. She has about 300 laying hens in a 3 acre range area that is fully enclosed by an electrified fox-proof fence. The chickens spend the night roosting in a small shed to protect them from the elements. In the morning they’re free to come and go from the shed as they please.
Family Homestead Genuine Free Range Eggs are produced at on 40 hectares at Myrniong Hills by the Luketic family. The hens are free to run around outside in the paddock; they’re never never locked up, not even at night. Maremma dogs protect them from predators. They’re housed in mobile sheds that are moved on a rotational basis to allow the chickens access to fresh pasture.
Madelaine’s Eggs are produced by Madelaine Scott, at Hollyburton Park located in Clarkefield. Beneath an orchard of 170 fruit trees, her flock of 1000 layers roam. The orchard provides fruit for them and protects them from the sun and wind. In return, the chickens keep the mold and bugs away. They have access to fresh grass and sunlight every day and are fed Hollyburton organic layer feed.
Dan Green once was a Melbourne based film-maker; he’s now a South Gippsland farmer selling Real Free Range Eggs. His flocks are rotated to allow for natural regeneration of the soil. The hens have 24-hour access to pasture, food, fresh water and shelter. They can dust bathe as they desire, they’re not de-beaked nor fed hormones or any artificial additives.
The chickens of Red Hen Paddock Eggs are stocked at low density (750 hens/ha), rotated around the paddocks to fresh pasture and are fed a grain diet, free from meat meal and artificial yolk colourants. They’re able to scratch in the soil, eat pasture plants and insects, stretch, flap, dust-bathe, move about freely and roost on high perches at night. 
Taranaki Farm, managed by Ben Falloon and Nina Grundner, is a multi-generational small family farm, situated just north of Melbourne. They aim to establish a fully operational integrated local open Australian farm modelled on Joel Salatin’s Polyface Farm in Virginia, USA. Their chickens are pastured, with a regime of twice weekly egg mobile moves to keep up with the cattle.
ACT
Stephen Clancy, a 6th generation farmer, his wife Maureen, son and daughter-in-law are the team behind Grandma’s Eggs. Their chickens are genuine free range with portable housing and with protection by two Maremma dogs. The 2000 or so chickens are free to roam outside 24 hours a day.
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Mulloon Creek Natural Farms consists of two farms located on the Mulloon Creek, east of Canberra. Both properties are organic using the biodynamic system of agriculture. The chickens on the farm forage on pasture grasses and legumes. They’re also fed a mixture of organic grains like wheat, millet and sorgham, and free feed on shell grit and a specially formulated protein supplement. Their “eggmobile” is moved twice a week to a new spot within their 20 acre paddock. Each of the flocks of 1000 birds are protected by two Maremma dogs. They sell at Harris Farm Markets in Sydney and Eco Meats at the Belconnen Markets in Canberra. Tip from Carolyn.
QLD
Cris and Lee-Anne Geri of Rawganix Farm in Tansey use movable pens for their chickens that are moved regularly to new pasture for fresh green pick. They retire to the chicken house to lay eggs and roost at night. As they farm without chemicals and antibiotics, they deal with disease and injury by quarantining, using natural remedies and culling when necessary. Tip from @BTHOfarmgirl
A sideline venture to improve Rob and Sandra Waterson’s pasture has become a good earner in its own right; Silver Dale Eggs was born. The chickens are free to roam all day; they’re never confined but have access to shelter, perches, grain and nests. Their mobile houses are regularly moved so they always have access to fresh grass. Tip from @rolley
Michelle of Sticks and Stones, located in Ambrose, supplies pastured eggs for her local market.
SA
Richard & Terressa Langford run Fleurieu Free Range Eggs. Their hens are not restricted or enclosed in a shed for any part of the day; they’re free to range all day and night, every day of the year. Maremma dogs protect them hens from predators. They eat a balanced diet of cracked grains, vegetable meals, vitamins, minerals and fresh greens make for a nutritious and tasty egg.
Tom and Fiona Fryar run 50,000 hens on 4,000 acres near Kingscote on Kangaroo Island. The hens are full beaked which enables them to peck and scratch at seeds, insects and grubs; their feed is supplemented by a mixture of grains which are grown, crushed and mixed on the farm. Each mobile poultry shed provides 1,000 hens with shelter; these are moved for fresh pasture. They’re protected by Maremma dogs.
Gumview Free Range Eggs is based on the Yorke Peninsula; they produce, package and deliver all their eggs direct from the farm.
Graham and Kathy Barrett of Katham Springs have been producing Demeter certified eggs since 1999. Their chickens live in mobile sheds that are moved around small paddocks regularly; they’re guarded by Maremma dogs. Bio-dynamics is a holistic natural approach to farming where looking after the environment and soil is of utmost importance.
NT
I don’t know of any Northern Territory egg producers. Do you? If so, drop me a line at info AT flavourcrusader DOT com
WA
Edward and Margaret Valentine of Cackleberries Eggs place their chickens in mobile custom-built “accommodation” so they can graze bio-dynamic pastures and be regularly rotated; they’re housed in the trailer overnight and released around sunrise. Bio-dynamic pastures and certified grains and grain by-product form their diet. Two Maremma dogs protect them from predators.
Merri Bee Organic farm is a permaculture that’s been developing slowly for 25 years on the banks of the Blackwood in Nannup. It’s the home of Stewart Seesink, Bee Winfield and their son Lee.
Graham and Nancy produce Robertjayne Premium Pastured Eggs from Wedgecarrup. Their hens and portable house are moved every day or so, to give them access to fresh forage. They range freely, surrounded by a portable electric netting fence to safeguard them from foxes. Their feed is supplemented by whole grains and during summer, lucerne and tagasate.
TAS
Related elsewhere
The Age: Melissa Fyfe and Royce Millar, Coles sets its own squeezier standard, March 4, 2013.
ABC News: ACCC rejects free range definition, November 2, 2012
Weekly Times: Egg supplier fined over ‘free range’ claims, September 5, 2012
ABC News: Free range definition to rise, April 16, 2012
Lexicon of Sustainability: This is the Story of An Egg, November, 2011
ABC 7.30: Truth in labelling bill ruffles feathers, October 7, 2011
Weekly Times Now, Leslie White: Cracks in free-range egg debate, October 5, 2011
Weekly Times, Leslie White: Egg industry cracks, October 6, 2008
ABC Radio National: Produced by Helen Thomas: Free Range Fiddle, 26 June 2005
cc photo by woodleywonderworks
Contribute: If you know a farm that should be here, email me at info AT flavourcrusader DOT com
[...] me to know where my food has come from. If you’d rather not ask such questions, here’s a ready-made directory (courtesy of Sharon @FlavourCrusader) to get you started. Or, perhaps – if you don’t already [...]
[...] me to know where my food has come from. If you’d rather not ask such questions, here’s a ready-made directory (courtesy of Sharon @FlavourCrusader) to get you started. Or, perhaps – if you don’t already [...]
Beautiful girls:) i love my chickens:)))
I buy Country Range Farming (CRF) organic free range eggs from the Northey Street Organic Markets in Brisbane. They are beautiful eggs and from what I can tell their farm on the Darling Downs is true free range. http://www.organiceggs.com.au/
Hi Shannon, thanks for the tip! They look good and have a long history of producing free range eggs. Yet a lot of crazy things happen behind the scenes in the egg world, so I’m keeping this little list to much smaller farms, just to be cautious. Nevertheless, enjoy your eggs!
Great blog post. For those of us who cannot always get to farmers market what are the supermarket options…are there any?
Some of these eggs are stocked in a few good butchers, with CSAs, Harris Farm, IGA and Thomas Dux. If you find somewhere near work or home always best to find out their delivery times and check the best before date. Only one is stocked in Coles, and that’s in Victoria. BTW I carry a cooler and shopping bag around with me whenever I go. You never know what deliciousness you may find and I love tasting the difference!
I would love to see more photos of the Maremma Dogs! I love the idea of big fluffy white dogs guarding their chicken buddies.
Do you know if Popes in Goulburn are truly free range? I suspect not for the price charged for them at my local shop.
Hi Alison,
I found a PDF a while ago where Pope explained their system. They use large barns. You can always ask them about access to pasture, stocking rates, debeaking etc if there are contact details on the eggs. They also do farmers’ markets.
Sharon