VOLAILLES - LES VERGERS DE LA ROUERIE

Agro-pastoralism: introducing poultry into orchards As soon as we took the decision to convert our orchards to organic farming, we felt it was necessary to couple this with the introduction of a poultry farm to accentuate our conversion. We opted for a broiler farm, which would enable us to meet a number of objectives: - Regulate pest pressure: chickens in orchards scratch the ground and feed on insects overwintering in the soil in a non-selective way. They come to peck at insects harmful to our orchards, such as codling moth and hoplocampus, with the aim of limiting parasite pressure year after year. - Fertilizing : Chicken droppings are very rich in rapidly available nitrogen, which can be mobilized by apple trees. This allows us to reduce external inputs. - Managing weeds : With the conversion to organic farming, the orchards are being completely grassed over. The only way to manage the grass at the foot of the apple trees is to have special equipment, which was not our choice. That's why the chickens will always have fresh grass to peck at, thanks to a mobile henhouse system. Our breeding : The chicks arrive on our farm on D1. For the first 5 weeks of their lives, the henhouse is set up as a chick nursery, with a temperature of 32°C, a cozy bed of straw, organic starter meal and fresh water. The aim is to accompany them through the first phase of their growth, developing their muscular structure and plumage. From 6 weeks onwards, there's a change of scenery. The mobile henhouse is placed in the heart of the orchard, and the chickens have reached the age of their first outing. This means they can roam at will among the apple trees, pecking at fresh grass and insects. The organic feed changes and adapts to their growth. Of course, they have access to the inside of the henhouse as they wish. During the 9 weeks they have left to spend on our farm before slaughter, the henhouse will be moved every 3 weeks or so, so that the chickens can peck as much as possible. For 2023, there will be 2 sales during the year. One sale on June 22 and 29, and another on November 1 and 9. Orders will be collected on Wednesday or Thursday evenings from 4pm to 7pm. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Our farm is surrounded by orchards and specializes in cider production. We invite you to visit the orchards and the cellar, and to taste our specialities in a room fitted out to welcome you. Farmhouse with stone building, surrounded by orchards. Farm products: cider orchards and on-farm processing. Ciders, apple juice, perry, pommeau, cider vinegar. -Visits all year round by reservation for groups and individuals. - Scavenger hunt in the orchards: Go on an investigation to discover the code of the Rouérie safe. Every Tuesday and Thursday at 10 a.m. and every school vacation from 01/07 to 15/08. Other times, on request. Reservations required. -Farm store open: Wednesdays 10am-12pm/14pm-6pm, Fridays 2pm-7pm, Saturdays 9am-12am. Closed on the first Saturday of each month, Sundays and public holidays.