Reed Farm is named after co-owner Peter's great grandfather, George Xenophon Reed, who inherited the family farm in Masonville, Iowa. He was a pioneer in raising Beltsville turkeys from Beltsville MD, a new breed of turkey at the time that were white and large breasted. Our farm today was founded in 2019 with the goal of raising healthy poultry for consumption while improving the land.
Reed Farm broiler chickens are Cornish Cross and layer chickens are ISA Browns. They are both sourced from Moyer's Chicks in PA. Reed Farm ducks are Pekin Grimaud Hybrids from Metzer Farms Hatchery in CA. We source our non-GMO feed for broilers and certified organic feed for layers from Green Mountain Feeds in Bethel, VT.
Our chickens are pasture-raised using a rotational grazing method, year-round (as season allows), and closed in hoophouses for overnight protection. During the winter, they are raised in a dedicated poultry production building, utilizing the deep litter method with daily application of fresh bedding. They are never treated with hormones or antibiotics.
-- 2026 Note --
During 2024, with the threat of HPAI and considerable flooding of fields, we needed to pivot in order to continue our year-round operations. Broiler production was moved to a poultry building (previously winter-only housing) with monitored air flow and temperature systems, condensation coolers, and daily fresh bedding.
And since then, we have been working towards acquiring and building infrastructure to safey and securely raise poultry on pasture again. As you can imagine, this has been a costly and labor-intensive endeavor.
In 2025, we acquired new farm property and began transitioning the new site for pastured poultry production and raised several batches of meat birds there. We also expanded into shell eggs from pasture-raised hens.
For 2026, we are well positioned to raise all meat birds on pasture (in season) at this site and continue our pasture layer operation.
All of our ducks have been pasture-raised throughout this period.
