Randy and Cynthia Klocke
China Grove, NC
Eggs, Produce

Randy grew up on a farm in Iowa. After 25 years of career-chasing, he bought a small farm in China Grove about three years ago. This past summer he and his wife bought another farm nearby. They came up with the name after purchasing their first rooster (a Golden-Laced Wyandotte they named Nehemiah). Hearing him crow from the hill every morning made the name a natural fit. Farming is in Randy’s blood. His great-grandfather, grandfather, father, and 14 uncles were/are farmers. One of his brothers farms as well. He does not farm full-time right now and is the Executive Director at a private Christian school in Salisbury. His goal is to be farming full time within the next three years. His grandson (James) helps him daily and he hires some of the High School boys from school for projects.  Chickens are not the only residents at the farm. Their collection of rescued ducks and peacock (Maurice) make the farm a relaxing adventure. The five goats are natural stress releasers. They love to sit in peoples’ laps while munching bread from our hands.

They want to expand Rooster Hill Farms to include a place where schools can bring students for educational field trips to learn about organic and free-range farming in a hands-on format. (However, because of their strict “No Visitors” policy for the laying barns, no one will be allowed to handle the hens.)

Eggs

Right now they have 126 laying hens. Another 50 will begin laying in early February (when they are about 20 weeks old). Most of their hens are pure-bred Golden-Comets. Others are Rhode Island Reds crossed with Leghorn Browns.

RHF hatch most of their flock from carefully selected hens and roosters. The hens they purchase are usually day-old chicks they can raise themselves. They hatch the chicks in an incubator in their home. Then keep them in dog kennels in the house until they are fully feathered (about five weeks). They are then moved to the grow houses. When they are about 18 weeks old they move them to the hen houses.

From the time they’re moved to the grow houses, RHF chickens have full access to pasture daily during the daylight hours (they are locked in the coups at night to protect them from predators). Within the fence of each pasture is a 400-square-foot coup and a 96-square-foot hen house, which houses no more than 50 hens. Each pasture also includes wooded areas and plenty of area for dirt-bathing and insect-hunting.

RHF does not force molt any of their chickens and takes a bold stand against any form of animal abuse.

The primary diet of their hens is pasture and insects. The remainder of their diet consists of an organic and protein mix. They supplement with free-choice crushed granite (to aid in digestion) and ground oyster-shell (to ensure stronger egg shells). Randy’s grandson loves to collect worms and bugs to give as treats.

RHF never treats their flock with anti-biotics or hormones. In the rare event a hen becomes ill, she is simply removed from the flock until she recovers. Providing proper nutrition and quality housing practically eliminates illnesses. In addition, they have a strict “No Visitors” policy to the poultry sections of the farms.

They keep all of the hens until the go into their second molt, which is until they are about 2 ½ years old.

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Rooster Hill Farms, Inc.