FREE RANGE CHICKEN

Deana and Quentin supply our free-range additive free chickens from their family run farm all year round. Their geese and chickens are free to roam across 20 acres of Sussex pasture and their Hubbard birds are suited to this traditional slow growing farming practice. To put this into perspective a supermarket bird will often only live for 32 days, whereas our birds live beyond 3 months and sometimes longer.

The chickens are fed on an all natural feed with no added growth stimulants or antibiotics. Once finished onsite in Arlington our chickens are butchered in Ringmer by Andy.

The Chicken has a firmer, more flavourful, and complex taste. The chicken at Foxacres Farm eat a more varied diet which leads to meat with higher omega-3s levels, vitamins (A & E), and less fat.

WHY DOES IT TASTE SO GOOD?

  • Slow Growth. The slow rearing growth rate of the chicken results in a bird with naturally developed muscles and fat stores leading to a firmer and more distinct flavour.
  • Less Stress. The chickens enjoy a calmer, more natural environment, which means they produce fewer stress hormones.
  • Additive Free. With no saline solution added to boost selling weight, these free-range birds develop richer flavour by living longer and enjoying a varied diet, naturally retaining moisture without artificial processing.

OUR EGGS

At The Old Dairy Farm, Sharon and her family raise 5,000 free-range hens in a DEFRA-registered modern poultry unit designed with welfare at its heart. The hens enjoy additional indoor space, perching, and scratching areas, as well as an expansive tree-covered range where they can forage and explore freely — living as nature intended.

This natural, active lifestyle results in healthier hens and better-quality eggs. Sharon goes the extra mile by supplementing their diet with fresh vegetables and seasonal produce, ensuring each bird gets exactly what it needs to thrive.

It’s this level of care and attention that truly sets their eggs apart.

WHY DO THEY TASTE SO GOOD?

  • Freshness. We collect our eggs weekly. They’re typically laid just days before reaching your kitchen, unlike supermarket eggs that may be weeks old.
  • Diet. Consisting of grasses, insects, and seeds, leading to richly coloured yolks and a depth of flavour you can taste.
  • Nutritional value. Because of how they’re farmed the eggs have higher levels of omega-3s and vitamins A, D, and E, and lower cholesterol.

Come to our markets to learn more, get to know us, and the local farms that grow your food.