Pastured Poultry

why pastured poultry?

Traditional chicken is raised in large buildings which provide no access to fresh air, sunlight, or grass. Our chickens on the other hand are moved onto fresh grass daily as soon as they are big enough to safely be outside overnight, usually between 14-21 days of age.

Our chicken tractors provide protection from predators as well as shade from the sun. They allow for the chickens manure to be spread throughout our pastures, providing a natural fertilizer which improves the quality of the grasses with each rotation.

The chickens are able to graze on forage, eat bugs, and pick up grit from the soil which aids in their digestion. Pastured chickens are a healthier animal with almost non-existent medical problems. This means no antibiotics and no growth hormones. Ever.

Ok, so they’re healthier. but how do they taste? Is pastured poulty better for me?

Studies have shown that pastured poultry has higher levels of omega 3 fatty acids, as well as vitamins A and E. Anecdotally the different kind of fat compared with traditional chickens means they cook a little differently. The fat bubbles and pops more like bacon rather than vegetable oil.

The taste experience has to be tried to be believed. The exercise the birds get on a daily basis while foraging for their dinner means the meat has a succulence and juiciness that is likely different from anything you’ve eaten from the grocery store.

Why soy-free food? Primarily it is our experience that chickens fed a soy-free diet taste better. It could be that substituting sunflower seeds and peas as the protein source rather than soy provide a more natural diet for the chickens and thus increases the flavor of the chicken. There is also conflicting evidence about the health benefits of soy in general, so we choose to feed our chickens soy free, despite the increased cost.

Where can I buy it?

We offer on farm pickup of whole chickens, frozen anytime, and fresh near our butcher dates.

We offer delivery of frozen whole chickens to our vegetable CSA customers on Saturdays, if you would like to inquire about a possible delivery depending on your address, drop us a line to inquire.

Visit the farm store to purchase a whole chicken. You can also find us on Venmo @Somerford-Gardens, or pay directly when you pick up on the farm.