Tag Archives: organic chicken

7 Benefits of Free Range or Organic Chicken Products

Farming has a plethora of benefits for not only the owner of the farm, but also for the people who are linked to the process. The same is equally true for the chicken farming which has a wide variety of benefits for everyone. The term free range chicken has been confused till now. In reality, free range chickens are those who wander here and there with their little hen hearts. The second definition asserts that free range chickens are those which are brought up in the outdoor settings. Whenever you enter the grocery store, you are sure to find chicken in a wide variety of tagging ranging from free range to organic and even to no-antibiotics. Although there are a number of health benefits of making use of the free range chicken, still you should try to look beyond the tagging to the source where the chicken meat comes from.

Health Benefits

There are various researches and studies that have confirmed that the benefits of using free roaming hens or chickens are countless. One such study is the one that was published by the Penn State University. Below are some of the health benefits of free range chicken.

Higher Meat Quality

The very first benefit to health provided by is the quality of meat which is much better than other forms of chicken. The prime reason for this is the fact that these free range hens have access to various insects and organisms which are rich in protein and other minerals. All of the researchers in the domain of poultry farming are of the view that the meat quality is positively effectuated by the insects consumed by the chicken.

free range chicken meat

Lower Feed Cost

As the chickens are brought in the open air setting, so the feed cost is sure to be low. Furthermore, raising free range chickens also a number of benefits to the environment, as they come to eat most of the insects which are present in access in the environment.

low feed cost in free range chicken

More Flavorful

As the chickens are grown up in a healthy setting, so a more deep and pleasant flavor is not much of a surprise. Furthermore, the bones also come to be stronger as the animals are always in the state of movement in a large area.

No Presence of Antibiotics

Another major benefit of the free range poultry is the no presence of antibiotics in the meat and the entire body. Contrary to this, the chicken brought in the industry settings is given various forms of antibiotics, but that is not the case with the free range hens.

no antibiotics in free range chicken

Stress Free

The caged animals have higher chances of developing stress and irrational behaviors, thus leading to some diseases. But this is not the case with the free range ones.

no stress free range chicken

Higher Egg Quality

Another major benefit of using the free range chickens lies is higher levels of egg quality.These eggs contain rich amount of amino acid and protein as well as omega-3 which our body needed. This has been confirmed by a large number of people who make use of the eggs laid by this chicken.

free range chicken egg

USDA Approved

The free range chicken meat has been subject to a great deal of research and is now highly approved and recommended by USDA and other food regulation authorities. Now this is something which you are not always going to find in making use of the industry based chickens.

usda approved

 

What is Organic/non organic chicken its realities,requirements/ how organic chicken are grown


What is Organic Chicken

We all know about organic fruit and vegetables but did you know that you can now buy organic chicken?

People must have heard about the nasty conditions which broiler chickens – which are bred for their meat – are raised in? These chickens have no more floor space than a sheet of A4 paper. Chickens are over-fed to reach slaughter weight in six weeks, when it would normally take four months.

Modem intensive systems of poultry production have produced cheap meat for the consumer – but at a price. Inside the intensive chicken houses, which are appearing in increasing numbers in the countryside, up to 40,000 birds are crammed, at 2 birds to the square foot, into a single windowless building, with almost continuous low levels of artificial light, they are then given drugs to speed up their rate of growth. Keeping so many animals packed together in such a stressful environment can only contribute to their rates of infection. It seems logical that the Chinese flu infections that we were seeing transmitted to humans comes from this same intensive farming. It isnt necessary to produce food in this way.

Organic farmers do a number of things to ensure that chickens are reared as naturally as possible. For starters, antibiotic growth promoters cannot be used but sick organic birds must be treated with appropriate veterinary medicine, so they can be given antibiotics if theyre very poorly. But they cannot be given drugs on a regular and routine basis, something that almost all non-organic poultry have to endure. Organic poultry is reared on a specially formulated feed containing only cereals, vegetable protein, a small amount of fish meal, and a vitamin/mineral supplement. These chickens are often guaranteed to be fed on feed which is free from genetically modified feedstuffs (GMOs). To be fully organic, chickens must be fed a diet containing grain which has been grown organically, without artificial fertilisers or sprays. Such feed is expensive, and therefore organic chicken is more expensive as well.

Also, on Soil Association registered farms, the number of chickens housed in a single shed is restricted to 1,000. A non-organic intensive chicken farm may have as many as 40,000 in the same shed. Organic birds are kept free-range, having continuous daytime access to clean pasture, except in adverse weather. Non-organic birds are almost always locked up night and day.

In addition, the Soil Association insists on full and clear labeling of processed chicken products. They are able to trace back to the farm all ingredients used in any Soil Association chicken products. Their organic certification standards state that food must undergo as little processing as is practical.

Organic standards are legally binding. All organic businesses must be licensed by law, and are fully inspected at least once a year. So if you want to see for yourself how organic animals are reared, why not visit an organic farm?

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