Properly Free Range Chicken
"Nothing has had a stronger influence on the development of Pipers Farm than the way that we were producing chickens with my father in Kent 30 years ago. We were growing food that we were not prepared to feed to our young children. As farmers, we were determined to do something about it." Peter Greig, Founder of Pipers Farm.
Family Farms, Not Factory Farms
Our properly free range chickens are able to roam outside on woodland pastures in natural light, and with the freedom to display their natural instincts such as scratching for food and dust bathing. These contented birds have properly developed bones and muscles and a strong natural immunity from pecking in the soil.
Frequently Asked Questions for Properly Free Range Chicken
What do your Chickens eat?
Our free range chicken's diet is made up of straightforward cereals (corn, barley and wheat) and grass, with the emphasis on developing a healthy digestive system. Chickens are monogastric animals, which means they can’t survive on grass alone – their stomach systems are not sophisticated enough to extract the energy and protein they need. This means nutrient-packed grains and proteins are a crucial part of their diet. We do not use any additives or chemicals in our feed. We want our chickens to grow slowly, healthily and lead a properly free range life.
Are your Chickens organic?
When we founded Pipers Farm 30 years ago our purpose was to produce food that is a pleasure to eat because it tastes fantastic and is grown ethically and in harmony with nature. Every farming decision we make is influenced by those simple objectives.We strongly believe in the principles set out by the original pioneers of the organic movement. However right from the outset, we felt the word ‘organic’ would eventually lose its meaning. The term ‘organic’ has come to be understood by most consumers as grown without synthetic chemicals, which to most people’s surprise, does not always mean that farming practices are sustainable. Sustainability is at the core of our mission here at Pipers Farm. So, to put it simply we decided against adopting the organic certification, instead opting to produce food with our own set of standards and total transparency about what we stand for.
What is Free-Range Chicken?
90% of all chickens reared in the UK for meat are kept indoors - in large scale, automated factory units which can hold hundreds of thousands of birds. Only 8% of birds are reared in a 'free range' system and just 2% are reared as 'organic'. You'll notice we do not use any marketing labels for our birds, there’s free-range, and then there’s Pipers Farm - Properly Free Range. The UK farming standards legally required to label a bird as 'free range' are surprisingly low, with birds only required to have access to the outdoors for half their lives. Some may be kept in barns with natural light, and be given 'enrichment devices' such as perches and pecking objects, but it is not a requirement. In contrast, the starting point for the way we rear our poultry is the life we want to give our birds. Our chickens are free to forage, dust bathe, venture and unfurl their feathers, all of which adds up to a healthy, happy bird with a robust bone structure and tendons, and ultimately contributes to the taste and nutritional value.
How do I cook Free-Range Chicken?
All our cooking instructions can be found on each of our products pages on our website. Simply search the product and scan down the page to find the cooking instructions. Alternatively, you can phone our friendly customer service team on 01392 881380. They are always on hand to ensure you get the very best out of your Pipers Farm produce. We also have plenty of inspiring recipes on our journal.
What is the difference between Properly Free Range and Pastured Chicken?
Our Pastured Chicken is a seasonal product, produced by a farm in Devon who have removed soy from the birds’ diet and replaced it with peas and beans to provide the protein element. They can do this as the Pastured Chicken is grown over the warmer months only, meaning there is significantly less requirement of a high protein feed such as soya as the birds are not challenged as much. We wouldn’t be able to rear soy free birds year-round due to the lack of warmth and sunlight in the colder months. Our Pastured Chickens also grow at a slower pace, often reaching 11-13 weeks in comparison to the standard 10 weeks for our Properly Free Range Chicken. This slower pace has an impact on cost, which is why our Pastured Chicken is slightly more expensive.