Most chickens that are raised as meat or for their eggs are housed in cages. However, the pastured poultry process is a humane alternative in which the birds not only live better but produce a better product. They roam freely inside their pen and eat a wide variety of grass, worms, bugs, and feed.
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.
Many people will only buy free range products because they believe it is healthier and more humane. However, free range is a broad category and the only requirement is that birds be allowed some outdoor access. This can many anything from being outside all day to a few minutes or hours on a dusty chicken run.
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.
Many people are interested in eating organic products. Organic foods are those that have been grown on untreated land and contain less toxins. Chickens that have been fed on only organic feed are considered to be organic products and their eggs can also be labeled as organic.
This type of housing can be more costly than either battery or free range chicken. Additionally, it can be very confusing for consumers to decide between the different types of chicken based upon advertising alone. Free range might mean pastured. Organic products may have actually been caged, and local farmers may have limited stock or only sell to established customers.
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.
Many people will only buy free range products because they believe it is healthier and more humane. However, free range is a broad category and the only requirement is that birds be allowed some outdoor access. This can many anything from being outside all day to a few minutes or hours on a dusty chicken run.
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.
Many people are interested in eating organic products. Organic foods are those that have been grown on untreated land and contain less toxins. Chickens that have been fed on only organic feed are considered to be organic products and their eggs can also be labeled as organic.
This type of housing can be more costly than either battery or free range chicken. Additionally, it can be very confusing for consumers to decide between the different types of chicken based upon advertising alone. Free range might mean pastured. Organic products may have actually been caged, and local farmers may have limited stock or only sell to established customers.
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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