Frequently Asked Questions

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This section is meant to address common questions about the varied organic and non-GMO diets of our various poultry.  First and foremost, our feed is NOT soy or corn free.  We believe that beans (we also feed them organic split peas!) and corn are a natural and required part of the diets of poultry raised in the state of Minnesota.  Through trial and error, we have found that birds do not weather the winters in Minnesota with a non-soy and non-corn diet.  Non-GMO heirloom soy and corn are what chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese, quail and other domestic poultry have been raised to consume in colder climates of the Americas.  We use HyView feeds (made in Mabel, Minnesota) exclusively for all of our poultry, and we acquire this feeding program and 100% of our farm's products locally from Condon Farm Service in Waseca, Minnesota. 

Our birds - both egg layers and meat breeds - are rotationally pasture grazed, with wintertime rotations including fresh organic microgreens and forage daily.  

In addition to traditional feeding methods, we also include organic non-GMO flaxseed meal, black oil sunflower seeds, split peas and dried black soldier fly larvae that are grown on site as a part of our restorative, regenerative composting methods.  More on that later, but suffice it to say, our poultry all receive the nutrition they need not only to survive, but also to thrive!

Our eggs raised for human consumption come from very "spoiled" laying chickens that are known each by individual names.  100% of our laying stock comes from local heritage/conservation breeders and NOT from large commercial hatcheries.  That means that our chickens are bred from decades of local upper midwestern ancestry and generally to the American Standard of Perfection, rather than the production or hatchery quality lineages.  These facts also mean that our chickens thrive in the Minnesota climate, live longer, healthier lives than genetically engineered production poultry, and, while they do not lay "an egg a day" like commercial breeds, they produce eggs more sustainable and naturally so as to NOT wear their bodies out prematurely.  Production/commercial breeds are bred to produce eggs for not more than 2 or 3 years, laying more often and depleting their bodies of energy to live longer.  Our birds live happily for up to 10 to 12 years and lay almost all of that time, even though production decreases with age. Our retired layers remain in our flock, teaching younger ones the tricks of the trade, and they live out their natural lives peacefully on pasture with continued healthy food for as long as they live.  

EGG QUESTIONS

Are your eggs washed? 

No, we do not wash our eggs, because the natural bloom on the eggs makes them last longer and more resistant to contamination.  Some of the eggs will likely have small dots of mud or dirt from pasture on them, along with the occasional piece of grass, hay or straw - or feather.  

What are "blood spots" and are they harmful?

"Blood spots" are exactly what they sound like - tiny droplets of blood that enter into the egg through oviduct during egg formation.  The commercial egg industry candles eggs and discards up to 20% of the eggs it produces simply because of the "look" that blood spots bring to eggs.  This practice is wasteful and not required.  Blood spots are NOT harmful and they have nothing to do with whether or not the egg is fertile, to dispel some urban legends.  If you find them unsightly, you may remove them, but consuming eggs with blood spots will do nothing more than providing your body with additional iron and other nutrients.  

Are your eggs fertilized? 

Yes.  It is very important for the safety and well-being of any pastured "free range" flock to have the watchful eyes of competent roosters, who then, of course, participate in the fertilization of eggs.  Most people do not realize just how useful and natural it is to have roosters.  For example, not only do they keep watchful eyes out for aerial and other predators, but they announce an "alarm" for the flock when a threat is perceived.  They also are responsible often for both locating treats like bugs or worms in the grass, and they also build comfortable nests for the girls!  We often walk in to the barn and see one of our beautiful boys in a nest box enticing another girl to hop in an lay an egg on a fresh bed of recently collected grass or hay, along with some of their own body feathers. (Which is why, as above in the "washed" section, you'll sometimes find these items on eggs!) 

Above and beyond all of these tidbits of information, the fact that our eggs are fertilized has no bearing on quality or nutritional value.  You will not receive eggs that have been incubated since we collect once or twice per day; it takes 2-3 days of a constant temperature of 99.5 degrees F to begin the developmental process for incubation. 

Are your eggs refrigerated?

Yes we refrigerate our eggs at the end of each week of collection, and, because we do not wash them, our eggs will last in the typical refrigerator for up to FOUR MONTHS.  (hint: if you are to boil our eggs, they are so fresh that you may need to let them sit in the back of the fridge for a couple of weeks, then bring them to room temperature before boiling.  Older eggs have a larger air sac which allows them to be peeled more easily.)

What supplements do you provide your layers to increase their nutritional value?

We feed our layers organic non-GMO flaxseed meal, black oil sunflower seeds, onsite raised black soldier fly larvae, oyster shell (for calcium) and grit (for digestion).  And, yes, again, our chickens ARE fed organic non-GMO soybeans, corn and split peas as a part of their natural diet.  We believe that these elements are critical to creating a sustainable, healthy flock that can thrive in our climate. 

Do you sell hatching eggs, chicks, or young adult poultry?

Yes. In season we do sell hatching eggs, chickens and some young adults.  Please feel free to inquire about those options via email bryan@lovingmore.farm.

ANOTHER NOTE: You will notice we use plastic egg cartons for deliveries.  We request that you recycle them back to use for re-use.  We find that, since we do not wash our eggs - and to prevent any bacterial contamination or transfer of avian or human diseases - plastic containers are easily sanitized and reuseable.  While recycled paper cartons are great for washed and "sanitized" commercial eggs from the grocery store, they have the uncanny ability to harbor microorganisms that could cause harm.  So please bring us bag egg cartons as a repeat customer!  And feel free to pass along the business cards that come inside each carton. (Or you can simply leave it in the carton and we will reuse them, too, after lightly spraying them with an organic mist of sanitizer).  

You'll hear us use over and over again is that our meat birds "only have one bad day." And we certainly feel that it is true.  All of our meat birds are raised in pastured "chicken tractors," that are made to hold 200 birds at a time (so the industry says) but we only put 100 in so they have room to grow and graze more naturally without crowding.  Our Thanksgiving turkeys boast similar environs, but they free range after they get to a certain age, because they are natural foragers whereas the meat chickens we raise are not feathered enough to be great foragers out in the fields.  We feed our meat birds with the same quality feeds that we do our layers, only with the specific nutritional needs for birds whose carcasses will be used for human consumption - maximizing growth and healthy development.  

At Loving More Farmstead Poultry Farm, we are committed to sustainable and ethical farming practices. Our chickens are raised in spacious, clean, and well-ventilated barns, and are free to roam and forage. We take care to ensure that our farming practices are environmentally friendly and that our animals are treated with respect and care. We aspire to be restorative and regenerative stewards of Mother Earth and her soil, and to establish and sustain natural ecosystems where our livestock peacefully coexist with wild animals.  

We utilize livestock guardians such as roosters, geese, muscovies (a type of waterfowl related to turkeys), and livestock dogs to help ward off predators.  We also use moveable electrified poultry netting, providing a safer perimeter within which our birds can be protected against ground predators.  Electric fencing does not negatively affect our poultry.  In fact, they rarely get any shock because their beaks and feet do not easily transmit electrical discharge.  However, the wet fleshy noses of predators such as raccoons, foxes, minks, weasels, coyotes, etc., very readily transmit a non-harmful yet "shocking" pulse that wards them off from entering our poultry pastures. 

Finally, we work hard to sequester as much or more carbon that is created by our livestock's byproducts, through composting, raising black soldier fly larvae and such.  We also give all of our non-processed organic kitchen waste (that which is healthy for poultry) to our flocks.  We pay careful attention to not give our birds things like raw potatoes or onions - or the green parts of nightshade plants like tomatoes and potatoes, since these can be toxic to them.  

We are proud to serve a diverse range of customers, from individual consumers to restaurants and retailers. We are committed to providing the highest quality products and service to all of our customers, and we work hard to build long-lasting relationships based on trust and mutual respect.  Our primary customers, however, are local Twin Cities area families who want to bring high quality locally grown farm products to their homes via farm to table, direct transfer.  

Our team is made up of dedicated and experienced professionals who are passionate about poultry farming and committed to providing the best possible service to our customers. We value teamwork, collaboration, and open communication, and we work together to ensure that our customers receive the best possible products and service. We always invite volunteers to come and help us with our flocks and gardens, especially during the summer season, and when we want some time away - and need farm sitters! Along the way, our volunteers say that they learn invaluable skills that help them in their own gardens and with their own backyard flocks. If interested in being a volunteer - or even just coming to our farm for a tour, please contact bryan@lovingmore.farm.