All of our poultry is for meat production and we are one of the largest producers in the industry.
Our chickens are reared to the highest welfare standards and of genuine British quality.
We continually monitor the health and wellbeing of our chickens through the use of the latest technology and ensure that they are cared for by top class veterinary advice when required. We take an active role in arranging farm visits for our buyers and welfare organisations including the RSPCA, Compassion in World Farming, M&S and the Environment Agency.
Currently we are mainly producing Standard chickens but we also rear some chickens under the M&S Oakham Gold Scheme.
The crop cycle begins with us taking delivery of day-old chicks from the hatchery. On arrival at our farms, the chicks will find sheds pre-heated to 33C and readily available food and fresh water.
Over the following weeks the chickens will eat four or five different feed rations depending on their age and receive the utmost care from our highly compassionate stock men and women. During peak growth periods, on some of our farms chickens may get through as much as 30 tonnes of feed in a single day.
When they are between 31 and 49 days of age, depending on contract, the chickens are collected and taken to our supplier’s processing plants. There is no on-farm slaughtering at any of our sites.
Following this, all waste from the chicken houses is removed and the sheds are fully washed and disinfected. We complete any large maintenance jobs to the buildings or equipment during this time when the chicken houses are empty. Between 7 and 10 days later, the next batch of chicks will arrive at our farms.