Pastured chicken
We stared raising pastured poultry this year and loved both the experience and the product (chicken which tastes like chicken!). Unlike cows who can easily get all of their nutritional needs met in a pasture, chickens need grain or other seeds. In our pasture system our chickens live in moveable pens which we move twice a day into fresh grass. Chickens really like clover as well as any area with insects. They get about 20% of their food needs taken care of by harvesting their own food in the pasture; we feed them a mixture of organic grains to round out their diet. We raise two main types of chickens – Cornish Crosses which are the conventional meat bird – they have larger breasts and more white meat; and heritage varieties which are smaller, take longer to grow but have more chicken like personalities, and are more colorful.
We will be raising 300 organic pastured chickens next summer. We will have three pick-up dates* (July 15, August 15, and September 15). Chickens are delivered whole, the day after slaughter so you can prepare and freeze them as you wish. You can reserve chickens in advance for the 2007 summer season by emailing or calling us. We plan to have all the chickens sold in advance. If you are interested in a large number of chickens (over 50) please call us as soon as you can so we can plan to meet your specific needs.
*CSA members will be able to pick up chickens at your CSA pick-up site.
Prices: All prices are by the pound, dressed weight. Chickens may weigh between 3.5 and 6 lbs.
10 or less 2.35/lb
11 or more 2.15/lb
