 Layer Coop |  Layers eating |  The first eggs of 2022 |
|---|---|---|
 Broiler chicks |  Broiler Coops |  Broiler Coop |
 Going after the feed source |  Broilers at 3 weeks |  Broilers at 7 weeks |
Pastured Poultry
Our feathered friends
Chickens are the first animals at Willow & Oak Farm. We started with chickens first and foremost for their ability to help us revitalize and reinvigorate the soils on our property.
We are proudly a pastured poultry operation, meaning that after 2-4 weeks in the brooder, our chickens spend the rest of their lives out in our pastures. Here they always have access to our green fields and fresh air.
What do you feed them?
Both our layer and broiler flocks are fed Mosaic Farms feed, a locally sourced non-gmo, no corn & no soy, feed, milled in Philomath OR. Of course, since they are on pasture, they have access to bugs, insects, grass, forbs and weeds.
The wheat for the feed is sourced from Willamette Valley growers, and the peas are grown in Eastern Washington, making it a truly locally sourced product. We think it's the highest quality feed around at the most affordable price, helping us keep our costs lower and our chickens healthy.
At the end of the day, we love working with other local farmers and processors, working to establish a more localized food system.
Where do you get your chicks?
We work with Oregon's own Jenks Hatchery in Tangent. We pick them up the day after they hatch, and usually at the same time as our feed from Mosaic Farms in Philomath to save some time and fuel money.
Layer Flock
Our layers always have access to 100 sq ft of pasture per bird when not sleeping in their mobile coop. We use electric fencing to keep them safe from predators, and better control their impact upon the land.
Their coop is moved once a week to more evenly distribute their manure, and moved to a new paddock twice month. It's very important to us that their impact upon the land, water and air is net positive, and contributes to a healthier ecosystem.
Broiler Birds
Our broilers are housed in smaller mobile coops that we pull by hand through the pasture. We move them once or twice a day, depending on how soiled the pasture gets.
Each bird always has 2 sq feet of space per bird in their coop, a pastured poultry standard. They remain in their coops in order to keep them safe from aerial predators that also call our farm home.