Eastern Plains Natural Foods raises heritage breed ducks, geese and egg laying hens in Bennett, Colorado. Dallas Gilbert has been raising free-range heritage poultry since the 1980s. He first began raising poultry for personal use because he only wanted to eat animals that had been raised naturally and humanely. When his operation grew he started giving extra birds to his friends-this later became a small business that has been growing ever since. Dallas also raises donkeys, which play an important role as livestock guardians. His birds “follow the donkeys around and fly up on their backs. Everyone gets along and they keep predators away.”

Dallas decided to join the Animal Welfare Approved program because he thought “official verification” of all the work he does would be important to have, especially because he believes in the humane treatment of animals for human consumption and he knows most of his customers have the same concerns. Dallas’ geese, ducks and chickens have daily access to natural prairie grass as soon as they are old enough to go outside. He is proud of his farm and encourages consumers to visit his farm in order to see his rare and beautiful birds.