Pastured Poultry

 

Good for you and good for them!
We raise several batches of organic broilers on fresh grass every summer. Contact us to place your order for the next batch, or to see if we have any frozen birds available.

How we raise our meat birds:

 

• Small batches. Able to perform natural social behaviours and never crowded or de-beaked.
• Moved at least once daily onto fresh grass in movable pens. Protected from inclement weather and predators, yet still able to enjoy the benefits of pasture.
• Fed certifed-organic feed, without Genetically Modified (GMO) grains.
• No antibiotics or medications added to their feed.
• Our pastured poultry is certified organic with Pennsylvania Certified Organic.

 

Organic, Free Range Turkeys
We are now raising our own heritage turkeys with our own breeding stock right here on the farm.  We raise our own Bourbon Reds, and also a Bourbon Red X Blue Slate cross. We have found our own home-bred turkeys to be far superior in health and flavor.    They are a more naturally shaped bird, with more dark meat and of outstanding tenderness.   Weight ranges are from 8 – 17#.

 

The Bourbon Red was developed in Kentucky in the late 1800's, and was also called the "Bourbon Butternut".   An important commercial breed in the 1930's and 40's, it could not compete with the broad-breasted varieties. We enjoy these beautiful heritage turkeys because they are active foragers, naturally mating and still able to fly (not always a good thing!).

 

For those looking for a larger, broad breasted bird, we do raise Broad-breasted bronze turkeys as well, with weight ranges from 12 – 28#

 

These breeds are threatened because modern food production now favors the use of a few highly specialized breeds selected for maximum output in a controlled environment. Many traditional livestock breeds have lost popularity and are threatened with extinction. These traditional breeds are an essential part of the American agricultural inheritance. Not only do are they important remnants of the past, they are also an important resource for our future. Contact us for more info. For more info on heritage breeds, check out the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.

 

Why not conventional Turkeys?
The regular broad breasted white turkey which makes up about 90% of the commercial market are highly specialized birds. Bred for feed efficiency and rapid growth, their breeding has left them with out the ability to reproduce naturally. Their conformation of tremendous breasts and short legs require that they reproduce only through artificial insemination. Control of breeding stock lies with only three international companies. Support family farmers who are raising alternative breeds!

 

One of our own home-bred heritage turkeys