At Elim Acres we raise laying hens and broilers as another addition to our healthy, homestead raised food sources. Our laying flock currently consists of Black/Blue Copper Marans, Bielefelders, Olive Eggers and Silkies. We also hatch and sell chicks from these breeds as well as hatching eggs to those interested in starting their own backyard/homestead flocks.
The last few years we have raised Cornish Cross broilers for meat. We liked the fact that we could have a bird ready for the table in only 6 or 7 weeks BUT raising this breed of broiler is not sustainable due to the difficulty in keeping parent stock of this breed. Their large size, while awesome for producing meat for the family, prevents them from breeding naturally, and due to being bred to grow quickly (therefore requiring large amounts of food which in turn creates large amounts of poop) they often begin showing signs of heart issues after about 8 weeks of age. Because our goal is to be as self-sufficient as possible, we knew we needed to find a better option for our broilers. After some research, we decided to try the Bielefelder. Besides being stunningly beautiful, these birds can grow to 10-12 lbs. in size as adults. While raising my breeding stock, I noticed the chicks seemed to grow quite rapidly the first few months of their life in relation to other heritage breeds. (It will be interesting to see if this continues in successive batches this year-2023). Another plus is that the chicks are sexable upon hatch by their down color. Pullet chicks can therefore be sold to individuals who are specifically wanting only hens and the males raised out for meat. The color of the adult males’ feathers, while very pretty, is also beneficial as it serves as camouflage against predators while they are free ranging. We are very excited to see how these gentle giants perform.
Sale Policy
***I do not ship chicks at this time. All chicks must be picked up at the homestead.***
**All chicks sold as straight run (NOT sexed)**
Minimum order of 4 chicks. Chicks MUST be picked up 48 hours after hatch. Pick up times are Fri evening/Sat. You will be contacted with a possible hatch date when eggs are set in incubator. You will be contacted again the day of hatch with a required pick up date. If you cannot pick up on the required date, then I will go to next individual on list unless other PRIOR arrangements have been made with me. I try to be a little flexible when necessary, but I cannot hold chicks for more than 1-2 days and there will be an additional fee. Amount of fee depends on number of chicks. You may choose to remain on the list for a later hatch, but you will get bumped to the bottom.
Please note that I do not set eggs until order has been placed. Occasionally I will have extra chicks available from a previous hatch. If interested in placing an order or to inquire on currently available chicks as well as chick or hatching egg prices, please email us at ElimAcres@Reagan.com.
Copper Marans
Silkies
Bielefelders
