Welcome to Crooked Tree Chicken Ranch! Our story began over 24 years ago when I married Mayra, a lovely lady from the Dominican Republic. Back then, I had horses and dabbled in raising beef for personal use. But Mayra, not a big fan of beef and pork, missed the delicious chicken from her homeland and wasn’t thrilled with the lackluster poultry available in local stores. Being the ever-doting husband, I promised to raise chickens just like those from the Dominican Republic. Little did I know this promise would lead us to where we are today in Bath, PA.
“I thought raising poultry couldn’t be that hard,” I said with naive optimism. I ordered 100 chicks with no clue about what I was getting myself into. Chicks hatched by a mother hen have a natural protector and guide. Ordered chicks? Not so much. They arrive in a box, no momma hen included, and suddenly, you’re their mother. Spoiler alert: baby chicks are very fragile, and I had to learn the hard way. After a series of reorders and a steep learning curve, we finally managed to raise about 100 chickens to harvest weight. Butchering them by hand? Let’s just say anyone who’s plucked chicken by hand won’t forget it. After 100 chickens, I was ready to throw in the towel.
Then something amazing happened. We gave a few chickens to friends and family, and they couldn’t stop raving about them. “Best chicken ever!” they said. I realized there was a gap in the market for natural, humanely raised poultry. With my gears turning, I told Mayra about my grand plan to raise chickens on a larger scale and sell directly to consumers. The only snag? Plucking chickens by hand took forever. Enter the “featherman” – a machine that plucks 3 chickens in about 45 seconds. Without it, who knows if we’d still be in the chicken business today.
Our journey took us from upstate NY, where we also dabbled in raising beef and pork, and then the economy crashed. We moved to Texas (which was too hot for Mayra), and finally back to the Northeast where we settled in Bath, PA. Despite swearing off farming again, the old barn on our property beckoned. With a mix of reluctance and excitement, Chartier Farms was reborn, eventually evolving into Crooked Tree Chicken Ranch.
Fast forward to the day when Mayra brought home some supermarket chicken sausages. I’d never heard of chicken sausage before, but the idea intrigued me. Soon, we were experimenting with chicken sausages and chicken burgers, which have now become our main products. We have now expanded into pizzas and empanadas, smoked products and are always looking for new products to develop.
So here we are, raising chickens naturally and humanely, and providing delicious chicken products to our community. Thank you for being part of our story. We hope you enjoy our poultry as much as we enjoy raising them!
Why Choose Us?
Quality You Can Trust
At Crooked Tree Chicken Ranch, we prioritize the quality of our poultry above all else. Our chickens are raised with the utmost care and dedication, ensuring that each bird is healthy, happy, and well-nourished. We believe that the best tasting chicken comes from the best cared-for birds. By maintaining strict standards in our farming practices, we guarantee that the chicken we provide is of the highest quality, flavorful, and nutritious.
Local and Sustainable Farming
Choosing Crooked Tree Chicken Ranch means supporting local agriculture and sustainable farming practices. Our farm is committed to preserving the environment and promoting biodiversity. By buying locally, you reduce the carbon footprint associated with transporting food over long distances. This not only benefits the environment but also supports the local economy by keeping your food dollars within the community.
Ethical Treatment of Animals
We take pride in the ethical treatment of our animals. Our chickens are free-range, allowing them to roam and forage in a natural environment. This not only ensures their well-being but also results in better-tasting meat. We avoid the use of antibiotics and growth hormones, opting instead for natural and holistic methods to maintain the health of our flock.
Freshness Guaranteed
When you purchase chicken from Crooked Tree Chicken Ranch, you are getting the freshest product possible. Because we are a local farm, there is no need for long transportation times. Our chickens are processed and delivered quickly, ensuring that you receive the freshest, most flavorful meat available. Freshness is key to great taste, and we are committed to providing you with the best.
Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food
One of the greatest benefits of buying from Crooked Tree Chicken Ranch is the connection you have with your food source. All of our products are farm processed, and as the only one that is involved with the processing you can rest assured that your chicken has not been handled by numerous faceless workers. When you know your farmer, you can trust the integrity of the food you are consuming. We are always transparent about our farming practices and are happy to answer any questions you may have. This level of trust and transparency is something you simply cannot get from large, industrial producers.
Community and Family Values
At Crooked Tree Chicken Ranch, we are more than just a business; we are a part of the community. We value the relationships we build with our customers and see them as an extension of our farm family. By choosing Crooked Tree Chicken Ranch, you are supporting a family-run operation that cares deeply about the quality of its products and the satisfaction of its customers.
Supporting Local Economy
When you buy from Crooked Tree Chicken Ranch, you are directly supporting the local economy. Your purchase helps sustain jobs within the community and contributes to the economic health of the region. This local support keeps small farms like ours thriving and ensures that future generations can continue to enjoy locally-sourced, high-quality food.
Health Benefits
Our chickens are raised without the use of harmful chemicals or additives, resulting in a healthier product for you and your family. Studies have shown that free-range, naturally-fed chickens have higher levels of beneficial nutrients compared to conventionally-raised poultry. By choosing Crooked Tree Chicken Ranch, you are making a healthy choice that you can feel good about.
In conclusion, choosing Crooked Tree Chicken Ranch for your chicken means choosing quality, sustainability, and community. We are dedicated to providing you with the best possible product while supporting the values that matter most to us. Thank you for considering Crooked Tree Chicken Ranch, and we look forward to serving you.