In the heart of our orchards, we raise broiler chickens in a mobile henhouse, all sold direct from the farm.
Agro-pastoralism: introducing poultry into orchards
As soon as we took the decision to convert our orchards to Organic Farming, we felt it was necessary to combine this with setting up a poultry farm to further our conversion. We opted for a broiler farm, which would enable us to meet a number of objectives:
- Regulate pest pressure: Chickens in the orchards scratch the ground and feed on insects overwintering in the soil in a non-selective way. They come to peck at insects that are harmful to our orchards, such as codling moth and hoplocampus, with the aim of limiting parasite pressure year after year.
- Fertilising: Chicken droppings are very rich in nitrogen, which is rapidly available to apple trees. This means we can reduce the amount of fertiliser we need to bring in from outside.
- Managing weeds: With the conversion to organic farming, the orchards are being completely grassed over. The only way to manage the grass at the foot of the apple trees is to have special equipment, which was not our choice. That's why the chickens will always have fresh grass to peck at, thanks to a mobile henhouse system.
Our rearing :
The chicks arrive on our farm on D1. The henhouse is set up as a nursery for the first 5 weeks of their lives, with a temperature of 32°C, a cosy bed of straw, an organic starter meal and fresh water. The aim is to support them during the first phase of their growth, so that they can develop their muscular structure and plumage.
From 6 weeks onwards, there's a change of scenery. The mobile henhouse is placed in the heart of the orchards and the chickens are old enough to go out for the first time. So they can roam at will between the apple trees, pecking at fresh grass and insects. The organic feed changes and adapts to their growth. Of course, they have access to the inside of the henhouse as they wish.
During the 9 weeks they have left to spend on our farm before being slaughtered, the henhouse will be moved around every 3 weeks so that the chickens can peck as much as possible.
For 2023, there will be 2 sales during the year. One sale on 22 and 29 June and another on 1 and 9 November. Orders will be collected on Wednesday or Thursday evenings from 4pm to 7pm.
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Our farm is surrounded by orchards and specialises in cider production. We invite you to visit the orchards and the cellar and to taste our specialities in a room fitted out to welcome you. Stone-built farmhouse surrounded by orchards. Farm produce: cider orchards and processing on the farm. Ciders, apple juice, perry, pommeau, cider vinegar.
-Visits all year round by prior arrangement for groups and individuals.
- Treasure hunt in the orchards: Go on an investigation to find out the code of the Rouérie safe. Every Tuesday and Thursday at 10am and every school holiday from 01/07 to 15/08. Other times on request. Booking essential.
-Farm shop open: Wednesdays 10am-12pm/14pm-6pm, Fridays 2pm-7pm, Saturdays 9am-12pm. Closed on the first Saturday of each month, Sundays and public holidays.
As soon as we took the decision to convert our orchards to Organic Farming, we felt it was necessary to combine this with setting up a poultry farm to further our conversion. We opted for a broiler farm, which would enable us to meet a number of objectives:
- Regulate pest pressure: Chickens in the orchards scratch the ground and feed on insects overwintering in the soil in a non-selective way. They come to peck at insects that are harmful to our orchards, such as codling moth and hoplocampus, with the aim of limiting parasite pressure year after year.
- Fertilising: Chicken droppings are very rich in nitrogen, which is rapidly available to apple trees. This means we can reduce the amount of fertiliser we need to bring in from outside.
- Managing weeds: With the conversion to organic farming, the orchards are being completely grassed over. The only way to manage the grass at the foot of the apple trees is to have special equipment, which was not our choice. That's why the chickens will always have fresh grass to peck at, thanks to a mobile henhouse system.
Our rearing :
The chicks arrive on our farm on D1. The henhouse is set up as a nursery for the first 5 weeks of their lives, with a temperature of 32°C, a cosy bed of straw, an organic starter meal and fresh water. The aim is to support them during the first phase of their growth, so that they can develop their muscular structure and plumage.
From 6 weeks onwards, there's a change of scenery. The mobile henhouse is placed in the heart of the orchards and the chickens are old enough to go out for the first time. So they can roam at will between the apple trees, pecking at fresh grass and insects. The organic feed changes and adapts to their growth. Of course, they have access to the inside of the henhouse as they wish.
During the 9 weeks they have left to spend on our farm before being slaughtered, the henhouse will be moved around every 3 weeks so that the chickens can peck as much as possible.
For 2023, there will be 2 sales during the year. One sale on 22 and 29 June and another on 1 and 9 November. Orders will be collected on Wednesday or Thursday evenings from 4pm to 7pm.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Our farm is surrounded by orchards and specialises in cider production. We invite you to visit the orchards and the cellar and to taste our specialities in a room fitted out to welcome you. Stone-built farmhouse surrounded by orchards. Farm produce: cider orchards and processing on the farm. Ciders, apple juice, perry, pommeau, cider vinegar.
-Visits all year round by prior arrangement for groups and individuals.
- Treasure hunt in the orchards: Go on an investigation to find out the code of the Rouérie safe. Every Tuesday and Thursday at 10am and every school holiday from 01/07 to 15/08. Other times on request. Booking essential.
-Farm shop open: Wednesdays 10am-12pm/14pm-6pm, Fridays 2pm-7pm, Saturdays 9am-12pm. Closed on the first Saturday of each month, Sundays and public holidays.
Services
Services
Free site access
Educational group visits
Guided tours for groups on request
Guided for individuals on request
Services offered
Quality standards
Quality standards
Agriculture Biologique
Bienvenue à la fermePayment methods
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Payment methods
Debit cards
Cheques and giro cheques
CashAccepted customers
Accepted customers
- Individuals
- Groups
Location
Location
Spoken languages
Spoken languages
