Penny Lane Farm

Baby Goats and Kunekune pig babies ready for a new farm.

We hope you have enjoyed your holiday season and have counted your many blessings. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Free ranging chickens in garden and orchard for the winter. Benefits both the chickens and the garden. Here’s a clear, practical breakdown of the benefits of free‑ranging chickens in a winter garden—for both the flock and the garden.

🐓 Benefits for the Chickens

🌾 1. Natural Foraging (Even in Winter)

• Chickens still find seeds, overwintering insects, larvae, and plant debris.
• Keeps them mentally stimulated and reduces coop boredom.

💪 2. Better Physical Health

• More movement = stronger muscles, better circulation, and lower stress.
• Helps maintain healthy weight during lower‑activity winter months.

🌞 3. Sunlight Exposure

• Natural vitamin D supports egg production and overall health.
• Winter sun is mild enough that they can roam comfortably.

🧠 4. Behavioral Enrichment

• Scratching, exploring, and dust bathing keep them engaged.
• Reduces pecking issues and flock tension.

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🌱 Benefits for the Garden

🐛 1. Pest Control

• Chickens devour overwintering pests like:• Grasshoppers (egg pods)
• Beetle larvae
• Slugs/snails hiding under mulch
• Aphid eggs on stems

• This gives your spring garden a huge head start.

🍂 2. Natural Tilling

• Their scratching breaks up soil crust, mixes organic matter, and lightly aerates beds.
• Perfect for beds that are resting for winter.

💩 3. Fertilization

• Chicken manure adds nitrogen and micronutrients.
• Winter rains dilute and distribute it safely before spring planting.

🌾 4. W**d Reduction

• They eat winter w**ds and w**d seeds.
• Reduces your spring workload dramatically.

🧹 5. Cleanup Crew

• They break down leftover plant debris.
• Helps reduce disease pressure for next season.

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours.

Harvesting today at Penny Lane Farm. We pulled garlic and beets for processing. We are grateful for a bountiful harvest.

Wishing all of you a wonderful New Year! May your year be filled with blessings and bounty.

We hope your holiday season has blessed your family. Merry Christmas from Penny Lane Farm.

Happy Thanksgiving, we are thankful for the wonderful year that we have had.

Thank you Veterans for your service. A special thank you goes out to all our family members who have proudly served. We love you and thank you for everything you have given up to protect our country.

Happy Fourth of July! Enjoy your freedom.