Most chickens that are raised as meat or for their eggs are housed in cages. However, the pastured poultry process is a humane alternative in which the birds not only live better but produce a better product. They roam freely inside their pen and eat a wide variety of grass, worms, bugs, and feed.
The majority of chickens and their eggs are processed with the battery method. Birds are housed in a multilayer cage system with a number of other chickens totaling thousands. They live there until they are slaughtered or until they are no longer viable egg producers. For many years this was the only process in place and most people never worried about how the chickens were treated. In recent years, people have learned more about the battery process and realized that it is an inhumane way of processing chickens. Because of this awareness, new processes have arisen in the poultry market.
Another common processing method is cage-free processing. In this procedure the hens are not caged but rather roam around free. Of course, this does not always literally mean the chickens are free to roam wherever they like. Typically this method simply means the birds are housed in a barn with thousands of others. Still it is a more humane method and the birds have nests and perches.
Many people will only buy free range products because they believe it is healthier and more humane. However, free range is a broad category and the only requirement is that birds be allowed some outdoor access. This can many anything from being outside all day to a few minutes or hours on a dusty chicken run.
Pastured poultry is a more humane way of processing chickens for meat and for eggs. Of course, the chickens are not allowed to roam freely in a meadow or up and down a hill. Instead, they're housed inside a pen that is periodically moved so that they can eat fresh grass and bugs. The reason they are kept in a pen is for their own safety, though. It allows the farmer to protect them from weather and from predators while allowing them continuous fresh air and food.
Organic birds may be raised in any of these environments. The only requirement for organic poultry is that they can only have been fed organic food and cannot have received antibiotics or vaccines. Food is considered organic if it has been grown on land that has not been treated with pesticides or fertilizer within the last three years.
This type of housing can be more costly than either battery or free range chicken. Additionally, it can be very confusing for consumers to decide between the different types of chicken based upon advertising alone. Free range might mean pastured. Organic products may have actually been caged, and local farmers may have limited stock or only sell to established customers.
For some people it is more valuable to support local farmers than to give money to large corporations. Consumers who purchase pastured poultry are able to say they have accomplished this goal. The fact is that the chickens are treated better by local farmers and their small businesses have a better chance of succeeding if consumers purchase their product.
The majority of chickens and their eggs are processed with the battery method. Birds are housed in a multilayer cage system with a number of other chickens totaling thousands. They live there until they are slaughtered or until they are no longer viable egg producers. For many years this was the only process in place and most people never worried about how the chickens were treated. In recent years, people have learned more about the battery process and realized that it is an inhumane way of processing chickens. Because of this awareness, new processes have arisen in the poultry market.
Another common processing method is cage-free processing. In this procedure the hens are not caged but rather roam around free. Of course, this does not always literally mean the chickens are free to roam wherever they like. Typically this method simply means the birds are housed in a barn with thousands of others. Still it is a more humane method and the birds have nests and perches.
Many people will only buy free range products because they believe it is healthier and more humane. However, free range is a broad category and the only requirement is that birds be allowed some outdoor access. This can many anything from being outside all day to a few minutes or hours on a dusty chicken run.
Pastured poultry is a more humane way of processing chickens for meat and for eggs. Of course, the chickens are not allowed to roam freely in a meadow or up and down a hill. Instead, they're housed inside a pen that is periodically moved so that they can eat fresh grass and bugs. The reason they are kept in a pen is for their own safety, though. It allows the farmer to protect them from weather and from predators while allowing them continuous fresh air and food.
Organic birds may be raised in any of these environments. The only requirement for organic poultry is that they can only have been fed organic food and cannot have received antibiotics or vaccines. Food is considered organic if it has been grown on land that has not been treated with pesticides or fertilizer within the last three years.
This type of housing can be more costly than either battery or free range chicken. Additionally, it can be very confusing for consumers to decide between the different types of chicken based upon advertising alone. Free range might mean pastured. Organic products may have actually been caged, and local farmers may have limited stock or only sell to established customers.
For some people it is more valuable to support local farmers than to give money to large corporations. Consumers who purchase pastured poultry are able to say they have accomplished this goal. The fact is that the chickens are treated better by local farmers and their small businesses have a better chance of succeeding if consumers purchase their product.
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To read about the many benefits of pastured poultry check this link to www.whynotfarm.net. You will find rare breed and gourmet chickens when you come to the main site of the Why Not Farm at http://www.whynotfarm.net today.
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