Just 3 French Hens and 3 Aussie Girls: A Christmas Gift That Keeps on Giving!

At Clavering Hill, we believe good eggs start with happy hens. And our hens spend their days doing what hens should do — scratching in fresh pasture, pecking at bugs, dust bathing in the sun, and clucking away to each other as they move across the farm with the seasons.

On the third day of Christmas 2023, Scottie gave me three French Hens (ISA Browns were originally bred in France) and three Aussie bred Australorps. So, we started with just six hens tucked away, over in the kitchen garden in a cute little coop, called the Roostervelt Hotel. Hens were always one of the very first things on the list of what we wanted for our farm.  But it didn’t take long to realise they added so many benefits to the farm.  Firstly, their gorgeous eggs were a treat in our kitchen, then they displayed unbelievable earth moving ability, working the soil, scratching up bugs, and reducing pests.  These original girls had a role to play in our regenerative farming system.  So, after 12 months, what did we do?  We introduced another 14 Isa Browns who were already laying, and they joined the feathered team.

What Does “Pasture-Raised” mean and how is it different to "Free-Range"?

For us, pasture-raised means our hens live outdoors on pasture, not in cages or sheds. They roam freely in big paddocks, or areas of our house garden with access to a coop for shelter, laying and roosting and fresh pasture underfoot every few days. They’re part of our regenerative farming system, playing their role in fertilising the soil and spreading biodiversity.

While free-range sounds ideal, it’s often not quite what people imagine.  In many commercial operations, free-range means hens may have access to the outdoors, but usually it’s a small concrete yard or a limited patch of dirt.  The free-range certification also allows up to 10,000 hens per hectare, that’s just one square metre of ground per hen.  Pasture-raised means the hens live outdoors on open pasture, with plenty of space to roam, scratch, peck and sunbathe.  Our hens eat grass, seeds, bugs, plus a supplementary grain ration we provide. No antibiotics, no synthetic additives, nothing dodgy. Just real food and fresh air.

Our current flock have recently been moved to our 40-tree orchard. Their days are spent between citrus, stone fruit, feijoa, quince, pear and fig trees — keeping the grass down, scratching for bugs, and fertilising the soil as they go. It’s a perfect partnership: they help the trees thrive, and the orchard gives them shelter, shade, and endless interest.  We are looking forward to the ‘fruits’ (sorry for the pun) of their labour this coming summer.

But just to make things even more interesting, we have recently bought a Chicken Caravan which will allow us to introduce another 30 hens, who live in the paddocks, rotating behind the Angus cattle and Wiltipoll lambs. The cattle and sheep graze first, then the chickens come through to break down the manure, scratch through the pasture, and add their own fertilising magic. The cycle keeps the soil healthy and the ecosystem buzzing.

 Collected by Hand, Packed with Care

Of course, with so many hens, there are lots of gorgeous eggs.  These are collected daily, sorted by hand, and packed right here on the farm and they are available for sale directly from us.  You’ll notice the difference when you crack one open — firm whites, deep golden yolks, rich flavour. What a real egg should be.

Why We Do It

We’re farming with a long view — regenerating soil, drawing down carbon, building local food systems that last. Our hens play an important part in that. When you buy Clavering Hill eggs, you’re supporting more than just good food. You’re backing animal welfare, sustainable land care, and a family farm doing things the right way.

Where to Find Our Eggs

Our pasture-raised eggs are now available direct from the farm, and we’ll be increasing supply as soon as our new flock are producing. If you’d like to be among the first to know where to find them each week, or place an order for pickup, follow us on Instagram @claveringhill — that’s where we’ll share updates, availability, and a few behind-the-scenes moments from the henhouse.

It's been an egg-citing journey and we’re just getting cracking!

The original Roostervelt Hotel.

The flock currently in the orchard.