A message from Richard & Jo
We thank all of our customers for their support this year and wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
We have been producing free range poultry for over 35 years and during this time there have been many highs and lows, however last year was the most difficult year we have ever experienced. Following the confirmation that some of our birds had contracted Avian Influenza, all poultry on the farm had to be culled to prevent the risk of further spread of the disease. This was a huge blow but with the support and understanding of our friends, colleagues and customers we have come through this. Thank you all for your messages and continued support this has meant a lot to everyone involved with the farm.
As part of the Government regulations, we have been prevented from having birds on our farm for 12 months. We are very fortunate and grateful that our neighbours the Birch family have let us utilise some of their land and buildings so that we can rear poultry this year.
We are pleased to be able to offer Geese and Turkeys for Christmas 2023 and these can be ordered online, however due to the reduction in our rearing capacity, we will not have Ducks and Chickens available this year.
We look forward to welcoming you back to the farm again this Christmas.
About The Farm -
G. B Geese is situated at Town End Farm House, Middle Street, Croxton Kerrial, on the Leicestershire and Lincolnshire borders. The nearest major town is Grantham.
The Botterill family have been tending the farm for over 70 years and it is now run by Gerald and Ann Botterill with their son, Richard, and his wife, Jo.
The village is becoming increasingly well known for the picturesque sight of flocks of geese being herded through the streets. This spectacular event as been featured in several newspapers and TV programmes and our free range turkeys, geese and chickens can be seen freely grazing in the green fields surrounding the village. The grass is shared between a flock of 400 breeding ewes, 1500 geese, 3000 turkeys and 2000 Chickens
Traditional Farming Methods
We source our goslings and chicks from small specialist hatcheries that produce slow growing strains of poultry that are ideal for free range outdoor production.
In order to produce the very best poultry we rely on Traditional farming methods. All of our birds are delivered as day olds and are immediately put into small groups under brooders.
Once the birds are fully feathered they are allowed free access to fields surrounding the farmyard. Each night we are careful to make sure all the birds are shut up to protect them from predators. The birds are fed on a cereal based diet produced locally and on the farm.
Christmas Poultry
The geese and turkeys are available through November and December with the main production being aimed at Christmas, but we are constantly being asked to produce poultry year round. In order to meet this demand we have started to produce a small number of chickens on a weekly basis. This is something we will develop in future gradually increasing numbers as demand grows. Further developments include selling geese at Michealmas and producing goose fat for sale.