Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Pasture Raised and “regular” chicken found in grocery stores?
Our Pasture-Raised chickens eat bugs, seeds, worms, herbs and grasses while they are out on pasture during the day, while also being supplemented with a variety of nutrients from their NON-GMO feed as needed. This high variety in the diet of a truly pasture- raised bird results in a much better tasting bird with a richer flavor.
Pasture-Raised chickens live the majority of their lives in lush, vegetative pastures, and at night they sleep indoors to protect themselves from predators. Because they're living a comfortable, diverse, and healthy lifestyle that nature intended, these birds develop juicier meat that is deeply flavored and more tender than conventional chicken.
How often does Fireside move their animals?
The Birds: We have two different types of birds on our farm, the meat birds which are moved ever morning for fresh forage, and the laying hens which are moved every two to three days depending on the weather and amount of forage they go through.
The Lambs: Our flock rotates throughout the pastures on the farm regularly as we do our best to not ever over-graze any one area. Depending on the particular pastures available, they are moved every three to five days.
The Pigs: The pigs live in seperate paddocks for the males and females. This means we are rotating them based on how many are in each paddock at a time. Their paddocks include some forrest and some pasture. The amount of forage available in each area determines how quickly they root up the brush and desireable vegitation. Our largest drove of pigs is typically moved every seven to nine days, while our single boar is only moved about every two weeks.
Does Fireside have chicken year round?
Yes, we have approximately 350 laying hens year round, which means we always have eggs available for purchase! We raise a large number of meat birds throughout the spring and summer months to ideally have enough available for the public during the fall and winter. Each year we are growing and enjoying the ability to provide meat and eggs as long as we can!
Why is Grass-Fed lamb considered to be “land salmon”?
Have you ever tried lamb? Have you ever tried grass-fed lamb??
Due to the nutrients found in well maintained and not over-grazing pastures, grass-fed lamb is known to have a favorable amount of Omega 3 to Omega 6 profile. The higher amounts of Omega 3 tend to reduce inflammitory reactions within the body. Most of today’s American diets consist of too many Omega 6 fatty acids, and too little Omega 3s. Adding grass-fed lamb in your weekly meals is an easy way to help balance nutrition.
Where does Fireside get their supplemental feed?
While much of our animals’ diets come from foraging the land, they are also fed a supplimental NON-GMO feed from a local mill which contains no added hormones, no antibiotics, and no medications.
Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest public health threats in our food stystem today. According to the PEW, 75-80% of all antibiotics globally are given to animals raised for food (mostly in the chicken and pork industries). Furthermore, per the USDA, all chicken meat is considered "Antibiotic-Free" if any antibiotics given to the chickens simply clear the bird’s system before it is finally processed.
Can I buy piglets from Fireside for my own farm?
We are taking the first steps for selling piglets from our Glosteshire Old Spot gilts. We have three gilts that we look forward to watching them become mums. Raising up your own pigs for butcher is a fun and rewarding endeaver that we would love to help you get started in!
If you need an intact piglet, please let us know as soon as possible before we castrate all male piglets.
Can my family come visit Fireside Farm?
Absolutely! We love having families come visit the animals.Please schedule your farm tours with us in advance by contacting us via email (firesidefarm.contact@gmail.com) or phone (828-545-9887). Tours do include a per person fee and are free for children 5 and under.
Feeding the animals food scraps is their favorite part about a farm visit. Please feel free to bring vegetable scraps and / or fruit that you want to share!
During your farm tour, you will learn how we got started, how we take care of the animals, the differences between our management styles, and even details about how we process, package, and distribute our products.