Cornish Cross
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Freedom Ranger
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http://www.healthobservatory.org/library.cfm?refid=80529
http://scienceline.org/2006/09/20/env-wenner-arsenic/1/
All of our chickens are raised outside in movable shelters with daily access to new grass and vegetation. This results in a firmer meat with a superior, more complex taste and a higher level of Omega 3 fatty acids compared to the confinement raised chickens that we find in our groceries. Several batches will be raised throughout the summer and fall. Whole birds are picked up fresh on an on-farm processing day, from the farmer's markets that we frequent, through our CSA or via buying clubs (set one up in your nearby town and we will work with you to set up a regular meat delivery schedule). We also schedule meat deliveries to various locations to match our travel our processing schedule so contact us to be added to our mailing list. Contact us for our anticipated on-farm processing dates or check back later as they get added here.
Cornish Cross Broilers (fast growth). Cornish Cross (also called Cornish Rock) is an extremely fast growing chicken that is processed between six and eight weeks. This is the large breasted chicken commonly found in our food system. The extreme growth rate of this bird causes some health problems such as weak legs, heart attacks, congestive heart failure (ascites), poor foraging ability and poor heat tolerance. The fast growth rate also makes the Cornish Cross ineligible for the Animal Welfare Approved program which we aspire to join, so we will discontinue raising the Cornish Cross. Rosambro Broilers (medium-growth). Our Rosambro broilers are grown to an age between eight and ten weeks old. The Rosambro is a new breed also offered by MT-DI Hatchery. This bird has many of the same benefits as the Red Broiler with somewhat faster growth than the Red Broiler (but slower that the Cornish Cross). Like the Red Broiler, we raise our Rosambro in a day range system. The flavor of the Rosambro falls between the Red Broiler and the Cornish Cross. Freedom Ranger Pastured Broilers. Freedom Rangers were a slower growing chicken breed very similar to the Red Broiler. We raised Freedom Rangers for the 2008 growing season and were very happy with this bird. Unfortunately, Freedom Rangers close up shop in July of 2008. Alternatives to the Freedom Ranger include the Red Broiler from MT-DI Hatchery and similar offerings from other hatcheries listed on the APPPA Business Member website. Reserving Pastured Chicken. Reservations are not required for 2009 as we will be growing a lot more birds than last year. You can; however, still reserve a bird. If you have a PayPal account, you can reserve Pastured Chicken, Pastured Turkey and Grassfed Geese using the "Add to Cart" buttons on the right of each page. You can also email us at drzimmerman1@yahoo.com , or you can call us at 608-874-4144 or you can use the "Contact Us" page.
Red Broilers (slow growth). Our Red Broilers are grown to an age between ten and thirteen weeks old. This longer growing period results in a deeper, superior tasting chicken that our grandparents would actually recognize as chicken. Because they grow slower, the Red Broilers do not suffer from the Cornish Cross's myriad of health problems. They also forage better which makes them better suited to being raised in a day range system. Day ranging means that they will be surrounded by a large electric fence netting to keep out the predators that like our chickens as much as we do, but they will be free to roam the open area inside the netting. The netting is easily movable and will be moved occasionally to make sure that the chickens have access to new greens and bugs. The slower growing nature of these chickens will mean more labor and feed are required which will result in a slightly higher price, but we think that the vastly superior flavor is worth it.
We currently get our Red Broilers through MT-DI Hatchery. You can read about these birds in th MT-DI Hatchery Catalog. Contact MT-DI by emailing George at: mtdifarm@atlanticbb.net
