Pastured Poultry Raising Chickens in a Grass-Based System docx

Pastured Poultry
Raising Chickens in a Grass-Based System

Erin Campbell-Craven, Livestock Program Assistant
Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture
What is Pastured Poultry?
Pastured poultry ≠ free range!
• “free range” is a marketing term
• “Producers must demonstrate to the Agency
that the poultry has been allowed access to
the outside.” – USDA Food Labeling fact sheet
• Outside could be pavement, gravel, rocks,
dirt… not necessarily pasture
What is Pastured Poultry?
Pastured poultry ≠ organic
• Feed must be organic
• No use of hormones or antibiotics
• Environmental regulations
• NO pasture regulations for poultry, only
ruminants
Pastured poultry are…
• Raised on FRESH pasture for most of their lives
• Given access to sunshine
• Usually frequently rotated
• Less crowded (enclosure space per bird 1-2ft²)
• Fed either non-organic or organic feed
– Pastured poultry NEED feed or planted grains
supplementation to thrive and produce (diet is
only about 10% grass)
• Often slower-growing, heritage breeds
Types of Pastured Poultry

• Broiler systems
• Layer systems
Broiler systems
• Raise from chick to slaughter in 8-12 weeks
• Usually kept in confined chicken tractors
• Moved often
• Often processed on site
• OK allows home-processing without licensing UP
TO 1000 birds/year
– only allows sales to household consumers
– must process at USDA-certified plant to sell across
state lines, contract with stores, restaurants
• Darp Processing Plant – Tahlequah, OK
Layer systems
• More often free-range or surrounded by
electric fence & locked up at night
• Need more space
– Higher frequency of cannibalism/pecking in layers
– Will be in production for years, not weeks
• Egg-mobiles
• Easiest to sell directly on-farm to consumers
– OK laws governing egg sales are stricter than
federal laws!
Why Pastured Poultry?
• Waste control
• Fewer health problems
– Heat stress
– Cannibalism/pecking issues
• Pasture improvement through use of manure
• Health benefits/Tastiness of eggs & meat

Pastured eggs have…
• Thicker albumen (egg white)
• Darker orange yolk

Pastured Eggs vs. Non-pastured Eggs
Pastured eggs have:
• 1/3 less cholesterol
• 1/4 less saturated fat
• 2/3 more vitamin A
• 2 times more omega-3 fatty acids
• 3 times more vitamin E
• 7 times more beta carotene

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Other Benefits of Pastured Poultry
• Ethical concerns
• Appealing appearance of flock to customers
You’re not just marketing a product, you are
marketing a way of life!

Pastured Poultry Challenges
• Weather
– Heat stress
– Cold stress
• Parasites
– Midges – avoid having poultry near boggy spots
• Predator control
– Electric fence

– Livestock Guardian Dogs

Heifer Ranch Pastured Poultry
• Raised 1000 broilers/year for kitchen
• Processed on site
• Cornish cross shipped at one-day old
• On pasture at 3 weeks, processed at 8 weeks
• Production from early spring to late fall
• Non-medicated feed (chick starter for first 2
weeks)
Kerr Center Pastured Poultry
Project