This season we are experimenting with not only rotational, but ‘conjoint’ rotational grazing. With the sheep in the same paddock as chickens, in addition to expanding the biodiversity in the farm, and the benefits for the soil humus buildup, we also found a surprise benefit: having the sheep roam around encourages chickens to lay all their eggs in the proper laying boxes. Less hidden eggs amongst tall grass. All credits to Prue. #symbiosis #friends #friendsinhighplaces #eggs #pastured #pasturedeggs #farming #soil #biodiversity

From dawn till dusk, work on the farm is never done... #farmlife #freerange #eggs #dawntilldusk #winternights

Every day can end beautifully, no matter what challenges one faced. Checking on the last flock for the day, and enjoying a sunset looking like a broken #pasturedegg between  the sky and Earth. #myoffice #farmlife #pastured #eggs #freerange #sunset #beauty

The chickens celebrating too:

We have won Champion award at the Sydney Royal Easter Show!
 
Thank you to all our customers for your support, you now know you are having the best eggs in NSW, and in ACT (after the 2018 Royal Canberra Poultry Show)!
 
A big Thank YOU to all our farm team, for the love and hard work we all know poultry farming requires.
 
Incredible support for rotational, sustainable farming, and pasture-based egg farming. Thank you #sydneyroyal_eastershow
 
#champions #eggs #pasturedeggs  #award #awardwinningeggs #thebesteggs

Me and the girls discussing the day that was. #myoffice #sunset #farmlife #happywomensday #sky #freerange #chickens #sound #eggs #pastured

The true mark of a genuine farm product. Variability and seasonality: The rainbow of different colored shells in just ten eggs from one flock of chickens, with different spots, dashes, circles and nuances of brown.
#allbeautiful #eggs #shells #rainbow #variability #seasonality #farmproduce #genuine #pastured #pasturedeggs #freerange #colordoesntmatter #range

Thank you, The Land newspaper for telling our story of holistic farming, creating and efficient and sustainable ecosystem, improving the soil, and producing great eggs!
#sustainablefarming #thebesteggs #rotationalfarming #regenerative #soilhealth #sustainability #theland #fame #thepress #realnews #thankyou

Driving through grass taller than the bonnet at the end of summer! 😁 regenerative agriculture and chickens put in practice @hilltopsfreerange. #regenerativeag #grass #chickens #farmersjoy #naturalfertiliser #actionsnotwords #do

"Grass is the forgiveness of nature -
her constant benediction.
Forests decay, harvests perish, flowers vanish,
but grass is immortal."
--Brian Ingall, random poetry lines found on the web
#grass #sunset #freerange #aftertherain #growing

Public baths taken to a new level: the chickens' unbreakable link to Eternal Rome and Ancient Greece.In Roman times, baths were accessible to all, both rich and poor, and so our chickens do not discriminate either.

Just like famous and splendid Roman baths influenced architecture and design, the chickens' dust baths influence the landscape of our farm, with crates and valleys 'designed' around the best shady trees.

Carrying over the proud tradition of staying clean and relaxing one's mind, the chickens' dust baths keep their feathers in pristine condition, and keeps mites, lice and other parasites away in a natural way. It is the best social activity in the hotter part of the day.

#natural #rejuvenation #baths #bathingchickens #clean #dustbaths #freerange #allnatural #naturalbehaviour #rome #ancientgreece #farmlife #nature #soilimprovement

Social distancing for clouds: the one you can watch, lying on your back against a bale of hay, and feeling happy about the state of the world. #socialdistancing on the #farm, #farmlife #hiddenchickens #pasture #clouds #safeplace

A liquid gold colour, the last of the harvest this season is done.
#harvest #homegrown #fullcircle #chickens #crops #eggs #sheep #natural #pasture #workinglate #summeronthefarm

2021, we are ready for you. Happy new year to everyone and may the best be ahead for all. #nofilter #nophotoshop #2021 #eggs #pastured #free #sunset #ouroffice #work #workingholidays

Our version of eggwreath to wish everyone a wonderful Christmas!  warmest greetings from all the chickens and the farm team #merrychristmas #chickens #eggs #eggwreath

"Turn, turn, my wheel! All things must change
To something new, to something strange;
Nothing that is can pause or stay"


– from "The Song of the Potter" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

From pastured chickens, to organic fertiliser, to clover, to pasture, to golden hay, to sheep...
The wheels are turning on and on,
the future becomes today.

#hay #cycleofnature #turningwheels #eggs #pastured #farming #farmlife #natural #organic #chemicalfree #chickens

These chickens really know how to lay an egg.
if we put a dozen of such eggs together, it would make a-1.8kg package to take home!
 
Photography by Flor

Our favorite evening time discoveries as we go for a walk around the paddocks:

There are the same three chickens who always walk all the way up the hill, and perch on the gates, right in the corner.

They stand close, gossip loudly for a while (a lot is happening in the chicken world every day), and then go to sleep on the gates.

Then, there is the same one chicken, who ever since we baled the hay, comes and flies all the way to the top of one particular silage, and sleeps there. Same silage every day. There are a few bales together in a row, but she always chooses the same one bale.It is very unusual for a chicken to want to be by herself at night, most of the chickens stay and huddle together.

This is what true free range is supposed to mean.

Come morning, all these four ladies go and join the flock. Why do they do it, and not stay like everyone else with the herd?
My theory: they just like the sunset from that height :

Now adding two days for home deliveries of eggs and farm produce (for now, Canberra only).  Choose between Tuesday and Friday  deliveries when you checkout.

"Last night I dreamed of chickens,
there were chickens everywhere,
they were standing on my stomach,
they were nesting in my hair,
they were pecking at my pillow,
they were hopping on my head,
they were ruffling up their feathers
as they raced about my bed.

They were on the chairs and tables,
they were on the chandeliers,
they were roosting in the corners,
they were clucking in my ears,
there were chickens, chickens, chickens
for as far as I could see...
when I woke today, I noticed
there were eggs on top of me."

-- the poem "Last Night I Dreamed of Chickens" by Jack Prelutsky, From the book "Something BIG Has Been Here"

#livingthedream #poetry #chickens #eggs #freerange #chickenseverywhere #welovepoetry #dreams #dreamscometrue  #jackprelutsky #whatdreamsaremadeof