Pastured Poultry . . . What’s the Difference?

In the United States there are basically three ways to raise chickens and turkeys. The common industrial method is cage-free (sometimes promoted as free-range) but totally confined indoors. Some industrial producers are advertising that their birds have access to the outdoors, but I have not seen this happen. After all, what would happen if 10,000 birds all wandered outside and were caught in a storm? The old-fashioned method is to raise birds outside using either conventional or organic feed mixes but allowing birds exercise, fresh air, incidental green plants and total exposure to the elements and predation. A fairly recent development is an adjustment to these methods that allows birds freedom of movement, fresh air and sunlight, but provides a measure of protection for these chicks and assurance of substantial consumption of green plants.

Our poultry is raised with an eye toward the natural feeding patterns of prairie chickens and wild turkeys. They forage through healthy pastures protected by our unique floorless field shelters. This eliminates disease and the drugs and antibiotics to control them. It is most humane in that it provides a measure of protection from rain, hail and predators, allowing us to put chicks in the pasture at a very young age. The fresh pastures provide a salad bar of grasses, legumes, and insects while providing a sanitary setting for dining and resting. Our records indicate that chickens include pasture plants and insects in up to 25% of their diet. Turkeys will take up to 50% of their diet from the pasture. Diets are enhanced with a mixture of grains and minerals.

Pasture raised chickens and turkeys are tasty, tender, low in saturated fats, and high in beneficial fatty acids and vitamin E. All poultry is harvested & processed by hand, and chilled to 40 degrees in our State Approved processing plant.

Whole Frying Chickens: $2.50/lb
Cut-up Frying Chickens: $2.65/lb
Split Breasts: $5.25/lb
Hindquarters: $2.50/lb
Cleaned Gizzards: $2.25/lb
Livers, Hearts, feet: $1.95/lb
Heritage Breed Roasters: $2.65/lb
Pastured Hen Turkeys: $2.65/lb
Extra-Large Free Range Eggs: $3.25/doz

Pasture raised poultry can be used in any and all of your favorite recipes with no adjustments. However, it is reported that with traditional cooking temperatures, cooking times may be reduced by 25%. We highly recommend the use of a meat thermometer to avoid over-cooking.