Pastured poultry refers to chickens that have not been caged, but rather has been allowed to hunt and peck for food. They eat bugs, grass, worms, and other natural food. Not only is this a better environment, but chickens and eggs that come from these animals are healthier. Another bonus is that because of the varied diet, pastured chickens taste better.
One thing to keep in mind when buying chicken or eggs is that there are many types of processes in the poultry market. The most common is the battery chicken. In this process the birds spend their entire lives in a cage with seven to ten others. The cages are layered and there are thousands of cages in the plant. The majority of eggs come from this method; however, in the last couple of decades people have become more interested in animal welfare and other procedures have flourished.
Cage free processing means exactly what it says. Chickens are not housed in a cage. It does not mean, however, that they are treated entirely humanely. Rather they are kept in a large barn with nests where they can lay eggs and perches where they can sit above the floor. Still, the birds are kept in the barn with thousands of other birds and have little room to move around.
Free range chickens are allowed at least some time in the outdoors. This means different things in different facilities, though. While some birds are allowed to actually roam outside, hunting and pecking for food, others may only be let out onto a dirt or cement road. It is not as common to produce eggs and meat this way as it is the battery method, but it has gained traction in recent years.
Many people consider the pastured poultry method of producing chickens to be the most humane. The chickens have constant access to the outdoors and the ability to hunt and peck. They are usually still in a pen, protected from predators and, as needed, the weather. The pen is moved around the property so that they have access to fresh greenery and bugs.
Probably the most common term that most consumers have heard is that of organic products. Organic foods contain far less chemicals because the producer must certify that they did not use fertilizer or pesticides during any of the last three growing seasons. Birds that have been fed only a diet of organic food also meet this definition but even caged or free range poultry could be certified as organic.
Considering all of these different descriptions and processing types it can be difficult for the consumer to make a decision about their purchase. Simply buying meat or eggs that are advertised as organic or free range may not mean that the chicken was treated humanely. Additionally, most pastured birds are raised by locally owned farmers and can be more expensive.
The truth is that each consumer has to decide what his priority is and how important it is to him that the bird be treated humanely. If so, he may want to consider pastured poultry. Not only are the birds raised in a better environment but he will also be supporting local growers.
One thing to keep in mind when buying chicken or eggs is that there are many types of processes in the poultry market. The most common is the battery chicken. In this process the birds spend their entire lives in a cage with seven to ten others. The cages are layered and there are thousands of cages in the plant. The majority of eggs come from this method; however, in the last couple of decades people have become more interested in animal welfare and other procedures have flourished.
Cage free processing means exactly what it says. Chickens are not housed in a cage. It does not mean, however, that they are treated entirely humanely. Rather they are kept in a large barn with nests where they can lay eggs and perches where they can sit above the floor. Still, the birds are kept in the barn with thousands of other birds and have little room to move around.
Free range chickens are allowed at least some time in the outdoors. This means different things in different facilities, though. While some birds are allowed to actually roam outside, hunting and pecking for food, others may only be let out onto a dirt or cement road. It is not as common to produce eggs and meat this way as it is the battery method, but it has gained traction in recent years.
Many people consider the pastured poultry method of producing chickens to be the most humane. The chickens have constant access to the outdoors and the ability to hunt and peck. They are usually still in a pen, protected from predators and, as needed, the weather. The pen is moved around the property so that they have access to fresh greenery and bugs.
Probably the most common term that most consumers have heard is that of organic products. Organic foods contain far less chemicals because the producer must certify that they did not use fertilizer or pesticides during any of the last three growing seasons. Birds that have been fed only a diet of organic food also meet this definition but even caged or free range poultry could be certified as organic.
Considering all of these different descriptions and processing types it can be difficult for the consumer to make a decision about their purchase. Simply buying meat or eggs that are advertised as organic or free range may not mean that the chicken was treated humanely. Additionally, most pastured birds are raised by locally owned farmers and can be more expensive.
The truth is that each consumer has to decide what his priority is and how important it is to him that the bird be treated humanely. If so, he may want to consider pastured poultry. Not only are the birds raised in a better environment but he will also be supporting local growers.
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