Our Animals
Every species has different needs. Our responsibility is to understand those differences, provide good care, and raise animals in a way we are comfortable bringing back to our own family table.
Animal Husbandry Is Daily Work
At 11 Kettle Farm, animal care is based on daily observation and practical husbandry. Clean water, feed, bedding, shelter, ventilation, fencing, pasture condition, weather, behavior, and body condition all matter. There is no single trick that replaces consistent care.
We focus on natural behavior, appropriate outdoor access, responsible nutrition, and prevention through good management. We do not use growth hormones and do not use routine antibiotics as a production shortcut. If an animal ever needs treatment, welfare comes first and any certification or labeling consequences are handled honestly.
Chickens & Eggs
Chickens were one of the foundations of 11 Kettle Farm. Our poultry program has emphasized frequent access to fresh ground, room to forage, clean housing, fresh water, and carefully selected grain. Moving birds to fresh grass helps support natural behavior while reducing the pressure that comes from keeping poultry in one fixed area.
Our farm history includes using simple supportive ingredients such as garlic and apple cider vinegar alongside sound nutrition and sanitation. Those practices are never treated as a substitute for proper animal care.
Egg availability changes naturally with flock age, daylight, season, weather, and molting. We have shared those slowdowns and restocks openly on social media because customers deserve to see that a small farm works with natural cycles rather than hiding them.
Gloucestershire Old Spots Pigs
We chose Gloucestershire Old Spots because heritage breeds matter. They represent generations of agricultural history, and they fit the kind of pasture-oriented, hands-on farm we want to operate.
11 Kettle Farm has operated as a registered breeder of Gloucestershire Old Spots. We value the breed for its calm temperament, personality, foraging ability, and traditional pork qualities. Our pigs are managed with space, shelter, pasture access, quality feed, clean water, strong fencing, and regular observation.
Raising pigs responsibly takes more than opening a gate to a field. Pasture condition, shade, mud, drainage, fencing, manure, body condition, feed, and weather all need attention.
Turkeys
Our turkey program has included Broad Breasted Bronze and Giant White turkeys. The Bronze is known for its distinctive appearance and traditional rich flavor, while the Giant White is valued for size, yield, and lean meat.
Regardless of breed, our priorities remain the same: sound feed, appropriate housing, room to move, fresh water, clean conditions, and careful attention as the birds grow. Turkeys are seasonal, and availability reflects the realities of responsible small-farm production.
Why Breed & Species Matter
We do not believe every animal should be managed the same way. Chickens scratch and forage differently from turkeys. Pigs root, wallow, and test fences. Each species requires different housing, space, nutrition, and daily management.
That is why we keep learning. Good farming is not about forcing every animal into one system. It is about adapting the farm to the needs of the animal while protecting the land and maintaining a high standard for the food produced.
See the Animals as the Seasons Change
We use social media to show more than finished products. You will see pasture days, winter care, egg production changes, new animals, chores, and the ordinary work that customers do not see when they pick up an order.
Raised With Respect, Explained With Honesty
If you want to know how a particular animal is being fed or managed, ask us. Practices can vary by species, season, age, and certification status. We would rather give you the real answer than a one-size-fits-all slogan.