Moeraki poultry free range farm all go

The first of four custom-built poultry sheds south of Moeraki have started production. Photos: Stephen Jaquiery

Chooks are in residence at the Natural Chicken Company's latest free-range poultry farm being developed south of Moeraki.

Resource consent was granted by the Waitaki District Council for the intensive farming of poultry associated with four laying sheds, their respective outdoor chicken runs, three rearing sheds and shelterbelts.

Consent documents showed the number of birds at the Horse Range Rd site would exceed 100,000. The birds would feed, lay and roost within the buildings.

The Natural Chicken Company is owned by Mainland Poultry, New Zealand's biggest egg producer.

Last year, Australian-based private equity firm Navis Capital took a controlling stake in the Dunedin-based company.

The Natural Chicken Company bought the Hillgrove property in June last year.

It also has free-range farms at Glenpark, near Dunback, which was the first to be developed, Waianakarua, and in Canterbury and the Wairarapa.