What is the difference between “free ranged” and “pastured” poultry?

We pastured poultry growers do not wish to contribute to the local fox population, so our small flocks are moved daily in large bottomless shelters to graze fresh growing pasture.  The shelters protect chickens from predators, while allowing all the advantages of exercise, small groupings, fresh air and green forage.  Unlike “free range” our pastured birds are never allowed back onto their own droppings, thus naturally breaking parasitic cycles without the use of drugs or dangerous chemicals.  Some commercial “free range” chickens only “have access” to pasture, but because of crowding, may actually never get outside.

What are the benefits of pastured poultry?

Small natural sized groupings, constant access to fresh, green growing pasture and fresh air and sunshine reduce stress on chickens allowing them to mature naturally. No residue from pesticides, drugs or other chemicals is possible since none are needed or ever used. All this, coupled with exercise and greens in the diet, substantially increase the nutritional value of pasture poultry, particularly in Omega-3 Fatty Acids and in Vitamin A, with a significant reduction of total fat content.  Best of all, these chickens have excellent texture and taste.  Those who say that anything without much flavor “tastes sort of like chicken” have forgotten what real chicken is like.

What is the difference between pastured chicken and factory birds?

Please see Values vs. Costs!, which contrasts many of the values of pastured chickens against the costs of the mass produced factory fowl.  It takes extra time, extra labor and extra feed to produce meat on pasture, but the resulting better nutrition and delicious flavor are well worth the cost.

Is Pastured Poultry “organic”?

The “organic” label is now a legal word game of government and big agri-business.  USDA even allows old frozen birds to be called “fresh” so long as they haven’t been frozen below zero degrees Fahrenheit.  Likewise, birds raised in high stress factory houses, but fed politically correct rations, may use the “organic” moniker (upon payment of the proper fee).

By closely mimicking nature, by paying careful attention to the source and quality of our feed and by keeping small flocks moving outside on grass, we produce chicken far superior in flavor, texture and healthfulness to birds with fancier names. 

Why is fresh pastured chicken only available seasonally?

We are blessed to have four good seasons.  In the northern hemisphere the shortest days of the year occur late in December.  During January, chickens raised outside react to lengthening daylight by starting up their reproductive cycles in anticipation of the season to come.  By February they are laying fertile eggs which begin hatching in March, right in time for the first green grass of spring.  From the living earth, grasshoppers, crickets, earthworms and myriads other organisms emerge to brighten the table of the hen and her chicks.  The chickens scratch the sod and move on, leaving behind a rich natural fertilizer which is taken up by vegetation.  As springtime advances the chicks continue to grow with the earliest hatching reaching market weight just as summer arrives. In the warm months we have long days and weather amendable to harvesting and processing this natural abundance. This is the time for us to be stocking up for winter!

If we were to try to buck nature by growing birds out of season we would be faced with all manner of (unnecessary) problems.  Water lines would freeze, our hands would chap and we would have to get up to tend chickens before dawn in the wind and snow.  Artificial light and heat would have to be supplied and we would be forced to forgo the many natural advantages which make our birds so superior to the supermarket’s factory chickens.

A bit of philosophy…

Our aim is to work with nature, not against it, to produce the healthiest and tastiest birds possible. We believe that we all profit from a close relationship with the land, with our neighbors (who are our friends and customers) and with future generations who should not be asked to clean up our mess.  This runs one hundred eighty degrees counter to an industry whose only goal is to maximize profits.