Our farms are maintained to the standards set and are accredited by Free Range Egg and Poultry Australia
Free Range Farming
Our story started in Lilydale, the picturesque town at the entrance of the Yarra Valley in Victoria.
The region itself is known for its award winning wineries and bountiful produce and was the perfect starting point for our free range brand. From the moment Lilydale free range chicken was launched in stores, the product range has been embraced by consumers and has grown to become the leading brand of free range chicken in Australia. Farming now extends to areas well beyond Lilydale, to include South Australia near the Barossa Valley and the Hunter Valley region in New South Wales.
Free range chickens
Lilydale farms are all accredited by FREPA and are regularly audited during their growing cycle to ensure the standards at met.
Lilydale aims to exceed the standards set by FREPA wherever possible, providing the most comfortable living conditions for its chickens to ensure both a premium and ethically sound product.
Standards
Once fully feathered, Lilydale chickens can roam outside during the day and forage amongst natural vegetation. Free Range chickens have lower stocking densities then conventional chickens and growth promoters are not permitted.
Chickens grow naturally and you know it’s free range if it bears the logo of Free Range Egg and Poultry Australia (FREPA).
Barns and Paddocks
Lilydale’s unique barns allow for virtually an entire section of the side of the barn to be opened, giving chickens the best access to paddocks possible during daylight hours to encourage them to venture outside. This provides twice the amount of outdoor access than the standard stipulated by FREPA.
When roaming inside their barn, Lilydale chickens have ample access to food and water at all times.
Lilydale adopts a proactive tree-planting program on all farms, providing an enhanced environment and plenty of shelter for all free range flocks. If the weather conditions don’t suit the chickens, they are at complete liberty to shelter inside if they wish.
No pesticides are permitted to be used on the grounds where the chickens roam. Regular reports from the Australian Government Analytical Laboratories state that Lilydale chickens are clear of any pesticide residue.
Hay bales and perches are positioned on paddocks and within sheltered areas to provide interest, enhancement and activity for Lilydale chickens.
This enables the chickens to express their natural behaviour.
Our Lilydale chickens are only fed ingredients from suppliers who undertake to supply non-genetically modified feed. We will do our utmost to ensure that all Lilydale products are free from genetically modified ingredients including cotton, corn, canola and soy. All Lilydale chickens enjoy a nutritious diet comprising quality cereal grains, such as wheat and sorghum, protein meals and supplemented by natural vitamins, organic minerals and natural antioxidants.
You will notice an accreditation logo on all Lilydale free range packaging. This logo gives you assurance that you are buying genuine free range chicken. Free Range Egg and Poultry Australia set the Free Range Meat Birds Standards which can be found at www.frepa.com.au
We have listed a few key standards here for your convience which we believe are central to free range farming.
- When fully feather, in accordance with the current edition of the Victorian Code of Accepted Farming Practice for the Welfare of Poultry, or other states code of poultry practice, birds must have access to an area on which to range during daylight hours.
- The ranging area must be capable of continued production of vegetation.
- Natural foods only are permitted with the addition of vitamins and minerals as required for the birds' welfare.
- Only under veterinary direction are antibiotics permitted. Treated birds must not be sold as Free Range.
- Growth promoting hormones are not permitted.
- A reasonable attempt must be made to protect birds from predators at all times.
For more information, visit the FREPA website or contact frepa@frepa.com.au
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