So, What's the difference.....? Part Three

 Part Three: Pasture Raised Poultry

By: Adam O'Connor

Chicken is probably the most versatile animal protein consumed in the U.S. today.  From production models, all the way to the kitchen, it is hard to match the wide possibilities you have with chicken. But the chicken we know today, was not always available.  The production methods used in modern agriculture are still evolving. So what is it that makes our chicken, different from everything else…?

100 years ago, chicken was rarely seen on the family table.  At that time, this slow growing, lightweight bird was much more valuable producing eggs. Males, culled from the family flock for meat, took 120 days to weigh 3 pounds. These single breasted birds were tough to eat, and required at least two birds to feed a family of four…. THAT’S ONE MEAL!

In 1950, breeders began to cross breed different chickens, attempting to isolate desired traits.  Growth rate, feed conversion, bone density, skin color, feather color… all taken into account, in an attempt to develop a bird more suited for meat production. In 1959, the first commercial meat chickens were introduced to the market.

Since then, chicken consumption and production have been on a steady increase, surpassing beef to become the second most consumed meat in the world. In that time, chicken rose to fame in domestic culinary terms.  Every home cook knew how to break down a bird or roast whole to perfection.  Then, the veil over the agricultural world was pulled back… and many people didn’t like what they found. 

Commercial chicken production was in a race, trying to keep up with the largest growing market with no evidence of slowing down.  In the race to produce more, in less time, with less space, and a better bottom line, true animal husbandry took a back seat. Today, most chickens are raised in a closed building, offering the producer the ability to control temperature, light, air, food and water… all in the name of more efficient production.

We see things a little different…

Rather than raising birds in a closed environment, why not raise them as close to nature as possible?  No closed buildings… our birds spend their days outside! Instead of a manure laden bedding pack, why not fresh grass? Instead of a closed building, why not let them live in the sunshine?  Instead of a closed ventilation system that may or may not work, why not let them breath fresh air? Instead of infrastructure heavy systems, why not invest in a portable system that leaves the lightest footprint possible?

Our birds are raised in portable pens, providing them safety and shelter when needed, while allowing them to grow in a clean, natural environment.  Moved once, sometimes twice a day, our birds are mingling in tall grass, keeping them free of their own excrement, and supplementing up to 40% of their diet with fresh vegetation. Fed only non-GMO feed from a local source, our birds are never subject to any medications, hormones, or foreign substances. 

We sell our birds whole, encouraging everyone to get to know your way around a kitchen.  Starting with a whole bird, you have endless options of what to create. So give it a shot.  Next time you plan a meal with chicken, consider how a natural, beyond organic, pasture raised chicken can make your meal… a masterpiece!