Colorful logo with text 'Oquail Valley' in large font and 'Free Range' in smaller font beneath it, outlined in yellow and black.

Farming you can
trust since 1981

A logo with the words 'EWINC POULTRY LTD' in bold yellow and black lettering.
An old, weathered wooden barn with a steep, partly damaged roof.
A smiling elderly woman wearing glasses, a hat, and a checkered shirt, holding a chicken in her hand, standing behind a basket of eggs.
Three chickens peck at the grass in a rural yard with trees and a building in the background.
Close-up of a brown chicken with red comb and wattles, standing outdoors among other chickens with a blurred background of blue sky and green land.
Several brown chickens with red combs and wattles standing on green grass outdoors, with a wire fence and rocks in the background.

Quail Valley Free Range Farm

Welcome to Quail Valley Free Range, a proudly family-owned and operated egg farm nestled in the beautiful Nelson region. Our family has been farming hens and producing eggs since 1981, when Lloyd and Gwen moved north from their sheep and cattle farm in North Otago to begin their poultry journey in Nelson. What began as a small, traditional mid-sized farm has grown and evolved through decades of change in the New Zealand egg industry.

The deregulation of the poultry industry in the late 1980s allowed us to take control of our own markets and expand our vision. Since then, we’ve continued to modernise, upgrade, and improve our farming systems - always striving to exceed the industry code of welfare and provide the highest standards of care for our hens.

In 2005, we recognised the growing demand for free-range eggs and purchased a small dairy block in Belgrove. This tranquil valley, with its rolling pastures, mature native trees, and natural streams, became the perfect home for what is now Quail Valley Free Range. Here, our hens roam, forage, and enjoy a natural outdoor environment that supports their health and happiness.

We bring in day-old chicks and raise them in purpose-designed rearing sheds. All our hens are fed high-quality, GE-free feed made in our own feed mill, ensuring their diet is fresh, natural, and traceable. Our focus remains on excellent hygiene, natural nutrition, and creating healthy living conditions for our birds.

Quail Valley Free Range is truly a multi-generational family business. Paul and his wife Jill now manage the farm, with Lloyd and Gwen still involved in supportive roles, and the third generation stepping in to help shape the future of our operation.

Our vision has always been Quality, Service, and Innovation. As the egg industry continues to evolve, our commitment stays the same:

  • to provide high-quality, safe eggs

  • to offer choice

  • to prioritise the welfare of our hens

  • to care for our environment

  • to help feed our growing population

At Quail Valley Free Range, we believe that the natural, peaceful environment our hens enjoy is reflected in the taste and quality of the eggs they produce. We’re proud to bring wholesome, delicious free-range eggs from our family to yours.

Caring For The Land That Cares For Us

At Quail Valley Free Range, sustainability isn’t a trend it’s a responsibility we take seriously. We believe caring for the land today protects the future of our farm for generations to come.

To reduce our environmental footprint, we have installed a solar farm capable of powering our entire operation, allowing us to harness clean, renewable energy every day. We use recyclable packaging and actively reuse materials wherever possible, helping to minimise waste across all areas of our business.

We also mill our own feed on-site, giving us complete control over exactly what goes into it. By carefully selecting quality ingredients and avoiding unnecessary additives, we ensure our hens receive balanced, natural nutrition while maintaining transparency in our farming practices.

Sustainable farming is at the heart of everything we do from the way we power our farm to the way we care for our hens and our environment.

Group of chickens roaming in a grassy field surrounded by trees with sunlight filtering through.
Solar panels installed in a fenced area with a backdrop of green hills, trees, and a clear blue sky.
Illustration of a green recycling symbol with three arrows forming a triangle, surrounded by green leaves.
A cute illustration of the Earth with a smiling face, blushing cheeks, and a small plant growing out of the soil.
Chickens gathered around a water fountain in a farm setting with trees and a wooden fence in the background.

Farm Shop @ 83 Main Road Hope

Proudly serving our community, the Quail Valley Free Range farm shop is your local stop for fresh, delicious eggs straight from our family farm. We offer a full range of both Free Range and Barn-laid options, all produced with care and high animal-welfare standards.

We love seeing familiar faces walk through our doors and are grateful for the support our community has shown us over the years — it’s what makes this little shop so special.

Opening Hours:

  • Monday–Friday: 8:30am–4:30pm

  • Saturday: 8:00am–3:00pm

  • Sunday: Closed

Pop in and grab your farm-fresh eggs — we’re always happy to see you!

A building with a white metal roof and a black front exterior, surrounded by trees including palm and pine, with a clear blue sky and a parking lot in the foreground.
Indoor farm store counter with cartons of eggs, promotional posters, and a price list hanging from the ceiling.
 
A close-up view of a tray filled with brown eggs, arranged in neat rows.

Our Products

A farm scene with a wooden barn, chickens roaming on a grassy field near a river, surrounded by trees and pine forest in the background.

Click here to see our Free-Range Range

A red barn with white trim and a grey shingled roof, surrounded by green grass and trees, with a red tractor nearby and a silo on the right. The barn has hanging flower baskets and a weather vane on top.

Click here to see our Cage-free Barn Range

SPCA Certified

Quail Valley Free Range is proud to be a farm that is SPCA Certified® for the eggs we supply throughout New Zealand.

“SPCA Certified is pleased to see Quail Valley Free Range continuing to carry the SPCA Certified® blue badge across its free range and barn egg products, a commitment they have maintained since 2017. Working with producers like Ewing Poultry helps ensure New Zealand consumers have access to a wide range of egg choices that meet higher animal welfare standards. When shoppers choose SPCA Certified eggs, they can do so with confidence knowing the hens have been farmed with care and their welfare prioritised” says SPCA Certified National Manager, Dr Kelly Drake.

Paul Ewing, General Manager of Quail Valley Free Range, says the certification reflects the farm’s long-held values.

“The high SPCA Certified® animal welfare standards align closely with our farming philosophy. We’re committed to producing food responsibly, and we fully support consumer awareness about how their food is farmed.”

“Our priority is the wellbeing of our hens. We are dedicated to providing the best possible conditions and producing nutritious, great-tasting eggs. In looking toward a sustainable future, we reviewed leading European welfare standards for free range and barn systems. We found that SPCA Certified® aligns strongly with both EU benchmarks and our own commitment to exceptional animal welfare,” he says.

Our Free Range and Barn eggs are available in the beautiful South Island, including at selected Pak’nSave, New World, Fresh Choice, Woolworths and Four Square stores across Christchurch, Kaikoura, Marlborough, Nelson, and the Tasman regions.

Blue SPCA certification badge with a smiling chicken illustration at the top.
A person holding three yellow baby chicks inside a metal cage at a farm or hatchery.

Recipes

A basket of six chocolate chip muffins in paper liners, lined with parchment paper, with a few chocolate chips scattered around.
A basket of six chocolate chip muffins in paper liners, lined with parchment paper, with a few chocolate chips scattered around.

Baking

A meal including a burger with a fried egg, bacon, cheese, lettuce, on a bun; a serving of French fries; a bowl of ramen with a boiled egg, sliced meat, and greens; a plate of assorted sandwiches with cut vegetables; and a small cup of ketchup and a small bowl of ketchup.
A meal including a burger with a fried egg, bacon, cheese, lettuce, on a bun; a serving of French fries; a bowl of ramen with a boiled egg, sliced meat, and greens; a plate of assorted sandwiches with cut vegetables; and a small cup of ketchup and a small bowl of ketchup.
Plate with a serving of mashed potato-shaped dish, a slice of broccoli quiche, and a breakfast casserole with egg and ham in a pastry crust.
Plate with a serving of mashed potato-shaped dish, a slice of broccoli quiche, and a breakfast casserole with egg and ham in a pastry crust.

Savoury

A dessert platter featuring two chocolate chip brownies, two éclairs with chocolate icing, a lemon tart with whipped cream and a mint leaf, a caramelized sugar-crusted crème brûlée, fresh strawberries dipped in chocolate, and small chocolate pieces.
A dessert platter featuring two chocolate chip brownies, two éclairs with chocolate icing, a lemon tart with whipped cream and a mint leaf, a caramelized sugar-crusted crème brûlée, fresh strawberries dipped in chocolate, and small chocolate pieces.

Breakfast

A bowl of macaroni salad, a bowl of cucumber salad topped with sliced boiled eggs, and a bottle of salad dressing on a yellow background.
A bowl of macaroni salad, a bowl of cucumber salad topped with sliced boiled eggs, and a bottle of salad dressing on a yellow background.

Lunch

Desserts

A breakfast plate with scrambled eggs, baked beans, bacon strips, fried sliced mushrooms, two toasted bread slices, and two hash browns.
A breakfast plate with scrambled eggs, baked beans, bacon strips, fried sliced mushrooms, two toasted bread slices, and two hash browns.

Salads and Dressings