Ethical Farming

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 At De Vere Farm, ethical farming is not a marketing phrase — it is simply how we choose to live and work with our animals.

Our hens are allowed to live as naturally as possible. They free range, scratch, dust bathe, forage, socialise, and follow their own natural rhythms. They are not treated as egg machines, but as living creatures with their own instincts, personalities, and place within the farm.

One of the most important parts of this is allowing our hens to brood naturally. When a hen becomes broody and wants to sit, we support that natural process wherever possible. Chicks are not treated as a production line. They are hatched, raised, and protected in a calm environment, allowing the mother hen to do what nature designed her to do.

This means our chicks are born into a real farm setting — not a factory system. They experience warmth, natural behaviours, fresh air, space, and the guidance of the hen. It is slower, less predictable, and not always convenient, but it is far kinder and far more natural.

Our hens are free to range across the land, helping the ecosystem as they go. They scratch through the soil, reduce pests, spread natural nutrients, and contribute to the health of the ground. Alongside the goats, ducks, horses, wild birds, bees, rabbits, pheasants, deer, foxes, and other wildlife that share this little parcel of land, they are part of a living, breathing ecosystem.

We believe ethical farming means:

• giving animals space to behave naturally 
• allowing hens to brood and raise chicks wherever possible 
• supporting free-ranging, foraging, and dust bathing 
• keeping animals in clean, safe, enriched environments 
• avoiding unnecessary stress and interference 
• respecting the animal, not just the product 
• working with nature rather than against it 

Our eggs come from hens that are genuinely part of the farm. They are cared for daily, watched closely, and given the freedom to live proper hen lives.

This is small-scale farming, done with care, patience, and respect. It is not the cheapest way to farm, and it is not the fastest — but it is the way that feels right.

When people buy from us, they are not just buying eggs or farm produce. They are supporting ethical farming, natural animal care, local food, and a small British farm trying to do things properly.

At De Vere Farm, our animals are not hidden away behind closed doors. They are part of our story, our land, and our everyday life.

That is what ethical farming means to us.

 Where possible, I allow my hens to brood naturally. If a hen wants to sit, hatch, and raise her chicks, I support that process because it allows the birds to follow their natural instincts.

However, ethical farming also means knowing when to step in.

Sometimes chicks can be crushed, trampled, rejected, or put at risk by the rest of the flock. In those cases, the chicks come home into a safe brooder, where they grow up together under heat plates. This allows them to form bonds, learn how to chick, and develop safely without the risks that come with being tiny in a busy farm environment.

Once they are strong enough and no longer need heat, usually around three to four weeks old, they move up to the farm and into the nursery area inside the main hen house. This gives them the chance to see, hear, and gradually adjust to the adult flock while still being protected.

Some chicks this year will stay in the summer house with Gwendoline, so she can help look after them in a calmer, safer space.

When the chicks become too big for the nursery, they move into the preschool summer house. This gives them a half-introduction to the flock before they are fully mixed in. It is a careful step between being protected babies and becoming part of the main hen community.

This system helps prevent tiny birds from going under sheds, being taken by predators, falling into ponds, drowning, or being overwhelmed by the adult flock before they are ready.

For me, ethical farming is not about forcing nature or controlling every moment. It is about allowing natural behaviour where possible, while giving extra protection where needed.

The aim is simple: happy hens, safe chicks, and a flock that grows up with confidence, bonds, and natural behaviour.

Our cage-free eggs come from hens that are not confined to cages, but still live indoors. They have more space to move around and engage in natural behaviors. They are a great alternative to conventional eggs. The welfare of my hens means better tasting eggs, The eggs are no older than ONE WEEK OLD, You will not get this level of freshness anywhere.

As a vegetarian, animal welfare is extremely important to me. I do not believe animals should be treated as machines, products, or numbers on a spreadsheet. They are living creatures with instincts, emotions, routines, relationships, and needs.

That is why ethical farming is the only way forward for me.

I know not everyone will live the same lifestyle as I do, and I am not here to preach at people. But I do believe we can all make better choices where we can. We can choose food, farms, and producers who care about welfare, transparency, and how animals are treated.

For me, being vegetarian is not just about what I do not eat. It is about the kind of farming system I want to support. It is about choosing kindness where possible, reducing harm where possible, and showing that food can be produced with respect.

On my farm, the animals are not hidden away or treated as units of production. They are part of the land, part of the ecosystem, and part of everyday life. My hens are allowed to free range, brood naturally, raise chicks where safe, dust bathe, forage, and live as hens should live.

Ethical farming may take more time. It may mean fewer eggs when the girls are broody. It may mean slower systems, more patience, and more hands-on care. But it also means happier animals, healthier land, and customers who know exactly what they are supporting.

I believe the future of farming has to be more honest, more humane, and more connected to nature.

Ethical is not a trend to me. It is the standard.

None of my animals are sold for meat. They are not killed when they are no longer “useful,” and they are not moved on when they become inconvenient.

They live with me for life, right through to their retirement.

If I cannot ride a horse anymore, I do not sell it off. If a horse gets laminitis, I do not discard it. I manage it, adapt, and care for them because I have a bond with my animals. They are not here to serve me until they become difficult. They are part of my life.

The same applies to my hens, ducks, and goats. Each one has their own personality. Some are cheeky, some are gentle, some are dramatic, some are bossy, and some are ridiculously loving in their own little way. They are all individuals, and I treat them as such.

Right now, my queen duck has decided she wants to be a mum. I know that may mean more boys, and boys can be harder to manage in a flock, but that is part of allowing animals to follow their natural instincts. Ethical farming is not always tidy, convenient, or perfectly planned. Sometimes it means accepting nature as it comes and then taking responsibility for the lives that arrive.

That is the difference for me.

I do not believe in creating life and then treating it as a problem. If I allow an animal to hatch, grow, or live here, then I take responsibility for that animal.

This farm is built on care, not convenience. It is built on bonds, not profit. And it is built on the belief that animals deserve safety, respect, and a full life — not just a useful one.

I also want to say a heartfelt thank you to all of my loyal customers who understand and support my farming practices.

When the girls go broody, egg numbers naturally drop for a while. That is part of allowing hens to be hens. Broodiness is not an inconvenience to be forced out of them; it is part of their natural cycle, and I am very grateful to the customers who understand why this matters to me.

Many of you do not just come here for eggs. You stop for a chat, ask how the animals are, and enjoy seeing what is happening on the farm. It has become a lovely part of the community.

One of the nicest things is when children come by and get to meet the new baby chicks. There is something very special about watching their faces light up when I bring out a chick for them to see. It gives them a real opportunity to learn where life begins, how chicks are born, and why animals need care, patience, and respect.

That is exactly what small farming should be: local food, real animals, honest practices, and a connection between people, children, nature, and the land.

So thank you to everyone who waits patiently when the girls are broody, supports the way I farm, and understands that ethical farming means working with nature — not against it.