5 reasons to buy pasture raised chicken and eggs
5 reasons to buy pasture raised chicken and eggs
Natural, humane, regenerative, healthy, supportive.
Chickens sanitising and scarifying the pasture after the cattle have grazed
Natural, ethical living:
Pasture Raised chickens (for meat or eggs) are raised in high welfare conditions, considered as ‘beyond free range’ (term coined by Joel Salatin). These chickens have a lot more opportunities to express their natural behaviours such as scratching, dirt bathing and foraging, and live a life with much less stress. They are provided mobile shelters that are moved daily meaning they have new forage opportunities daily whereas free range chickens have access to the same run over and over, day in and day out. Not only is this natural, more healthy and provides more variation in their diet, but also more interesting for chickens. They have unrestricted access to the outdoors, with an ever changing view and to varied nutrients from grass, bugs, worms and insects alongside chicken feed. The movement of the chickens mimics how they would move naturally with a herd of herbivores making it the most natural way of raising chickens.
2. Soil Building:
Through their natural activities, pasture raised chickens are incredibly efficient at building soil, a practice that sums up regenerative agriculture. Heavy manure loads are deposited every day by the chickens, before being moved. They trample this manure into the grass, providing fertility. The area is then rested allowing grasses to soak in the nutrients and grow even stronger by the time the chickens next visit which in turn provides even better forage for the chickens (or grazing herbivores in a naturally diverse system). Building soil improves water retention, builds grass, builds diversity. Regenerative agriculture aims to sequester more carbon than produced.
3. Healthier product:
The chickens are never sitting in dirty, manure laden conditions because they are always on the move. This breaks parasite cycles meaning there is no need for medications. No antibiotics or additives. Pasture raised farmers usually provide feed that does not contain any hormones for growth promotion, egg yolk colourants, antibiotics or other medications. The chickens are outdoors, enjoying sunshine, fresh air, fresh water and bugs.
4. Nutrient Dense food:
Being outdoors and on natural forage produces nutrient dense products. A truly pasture raised egg is deliciously golden from xanthophyll, a naturally occurring yellow pigment found in young leaves. This gives yolks the golden colour, and beaks and feet of chickens and ducks a healthy orange colour. Because the chickens are always moving to new areas, grasses are given time to rest and regrow. This means that they have access to young leaves in each new area. Animals that are raised naturally, without stress and disease, produce a healthy food product that is better for us to consume.
Pasture raised chicken meat has higher iron, lower Omega 6: 3 ratio, increased Vitamin D and antioxidants. Deeper flavour and firmer texture.
Pasture raised eggs have a better taste, texture and colour while also containing higher vitamin D, antioxidants, and Omega 3
5. Community support:
Pasture raised poultry enterprises are run by actual humans - not by machines. This provides jobs, but also fulfilling jobs as people engage directly with animals and nature. Most pasture poultry farmers sell directly and locally, and produce in small batches.
By buying pasture raised, you can support local small scale farmers who are producing food that is
good for the animals, good for the land, good for the community and good for you!
