These are retired birds from our egg laying flock, having spent a very full life eating a varied diet with regular moves to fresh grass.

This is our first batch of the year - when they're gone, they're gone. Another batch will be available around September.

We keep our laying hens for a lot longer than most egg producers, but there comes a point when their egg production drops off and we have to replace them with younger birds to keep our egg supply going. As our birds are not under extreme production pressure at any point in their lives, they still carry some good meat and fat. Cooked slowly with sufficient moisture, they create some very good eating, especially the birds which are at the heavier end of the scale (our birds are a mixture of different breeds, some bigger and meatier than others).

Like all our poultry, they are fed an organic diet which is GM-free and soya-free. And as you all know, zero antibiotics are used on our farm.

Recommended for slow cooking, the flavour is out of this world - just like how chicken used to taste! Also perfect for making stews, chicken soups and high quality broth.