Introduction. Pastured poultry refers to poultry production models in which birds are raised with daily access to pasture. Birds raised under this model add grass and bugs to their diet. They get natural sunlight and fresh air. They are supplied more space and raised in smaller, more natural groups than in current industrial poultry production models. In this model, the birds have the opportunity to express more of their natural activities such as ground scratching and dust bathing in the case of chicken and turkey. Manure is dispersed naturally onto growing pasture at levels that can be used by the pasture without allowing run off. Many people feel that this production model is more humane that industrial production models.
Shelter. In the pastured poultry model some form of shelter must be provided to protect the birds from weather, predators, dogs and such. One common implementation of pastured poultry utilizes movable shelters. These portable shelters are floorless so the birds can access the grass and bugs. The shelters are moved once or twice daily to provide. This method of pastured poultry production was made famous by Joel Salatin in his book Pastured Poultry Profits . In another implementation of pastured poultry, referred to as "day ranging", a semi portable shelter is utilized. The birds are closed up in the semi portable shelter overnight to protect them from predators and released during the day to range for grass and bugs. Some day ranging operators protect their ranging birds within a large electric netting system. The netting system and semi-portable shelter are moved on a regular basis to keep the pasture fresh and to distribute the manure.
Food. Most poultry cannot live on pasture alone (geese are an exception to this) and require additional grain. Pastured poultry producers are typically quite particular about what they feed. Most operators will not feed antibiotics on a regular basis or at all. Some use probiotics (good bugs) ensure optimum health by supplying necessary mineral in the feed. Most operators ensure that no processed animal proteins are fed which ensures that chicken protein is not fed to chickens, turkey protein is not fed to turkey, etc. Some operators feed only non-GMO feed, some feed only local grain, some are certified organic. It should be noted that in the pastured poultry model, birds have more room to exercise and subject to more of Mother Nature's variables which all leads to a higher food input. With grain prices raising sharply lately due to ethanol production, this means that the cost of raising pastured poultry in even more impacted than the cost of raising poultry in the industrial, climate controlled, densely populated model.
The Industrial Production Model. The alternative production model for chicken and turkey uses fast growing breeds raised in climate controlled, densely populated. There is no access to natural light. There is usually no access to the out doors. Feces laden dust fill the air in the confined, densely populated environment. Typically, antibiotics are mixed into there daily rations to make up for the less that ideal environment. Processed animal protein is usually a part of the feed mix.
