Frequently Asked Questions

What do you feed your birds?

Our birds free range during the day and sleep in well-ventilated coops at night.  Free range can be a misleading marketing term, but for us, it's a large area protected by an electric fence for the chickens.  This is more to keep predators out than to keep the chickens in (our chickens can hop through and over it).  Our ducks and geese enjoy weeding the gardens and sneaking tomatoes.  Therefore, a large portion of everyone's diet consists of plants and bugs naturally growing on the side of Signal Mountain.  We supplement with soy-free, certified organic feed from New Country Organics (check out the ingredients here) .

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Why are the egg shells different colors?

Eggshell color is determined by the breed of the chicken.  We love a colorful array of eggs and therefore have opted for a wide range of breeds.  

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What makes a dark yellow or orange yolk?

The yolk color is determined by diet.  Dark, leafy greens and other supplements (i.e. marigold) can darken yolks.  We've found that our flocks create a range of yolk color based on the ranging characteristics of the individual birds and seasonal forage availability.  

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What is the difference between chicken and duck eggs?

Duck eggs are generally larger with a higher yolk to white ratio.  This makes them richer and excellent for baking and fresh pasta.  Despite their size, we generally recommend a one-for-one replacement in recipes.  The only exceptions would be your very finicky recipes that really require egg-weighing anyway.  Keep in mind however, that because the duck egg yolk is larger, duck eggs contribute more fat and less water.  Duck eggs also have a thicker shell that makes them last longer.  Click here for a good article describing the nutritional differences between the two.  It all comes down to personal preference.  Many of our customers use them interchangeably for a wide variety of applications (that includes our family).  However, some prefer one over the other, so we would encourage you to try a half dozen duck eggs if you're curious.  If you're baking a pound cake... definitely go for duck.

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Do the eggs need to be refrigerated?

There is a lot of conflicting information out there related to this topic.  Based on our experience, refrigerating eggs (washed or unwashed) makes them last longer, so we always recommend refrigeration unless you're planning to use the eggs quickly.  We do wash our eggs because most of our customers prefer it, and it's just one less step you have to do before you use them.  If you would like to purchase unwashed eggs, please email us, or include your request in the notes section during checkout.

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Are your vegetables organic?

While we are not officially certified, we grow our vegetables with organic fertilizers and no pesticides. 

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Where do you get your chicks?

We get the vast majority of our chicks and ducklings from the Murray McMurray Hatchery.  If you're interested in learning about different poultry and poultry breeds, their website is a great resource. 

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How do I order?

​You can order through our online store for convenient on-farm pickup!  Once you place your order, we'll email you within 24 hours with timing and additional information.  Once you receive a 'ready for pickup' email, you can pick up from our cooler (near the entrance) at your convenience.  If you have a preferred pickup date, you can include that request during checkout.  In general, if you order in-stock eggs, veggies or snacks before noon, your order will be ready for pick-up same day.  Orders of in-stock items after noon will be ready for pick-up the next morning.  Breads and Pastries are baked to order, so timing is dependent on the specific order, and you will be contacted with the available pick-up day.  If you order an out of stock item, we'll contact you with available pick-up.  

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