The demand for grass-fed chickens
With rising demand worldwide for more organic, clean, toxic-free food, industries are driven to find new ways to keep up. There is high competition in the food arena. And with rising trends for organic vegetables, grass-fed beef, and milk comes a new notion: grass-fed chicken.
Yes, pasture-raised chickens do feed on grass. Not only grass, but they peck and eat any plant that catches their fancy. But chickens are not naturally herbivores. They are omnivores that eat greens, worms, grains, and even stones and dirt. The truth is that even 100% pasture-raised chicken cannot be 100% grass-fed. Chickens must eat worms, grains, stones, mice, vegetables, and everything else they need to keep them healthy. So to make it clear, there is no such thing as 100% grass-fed chicken.
The rising interest in grass-fed chicken is normal. People follow a logical chain of thought. If grass-fed cows, then why not grass-fed chicken? Grain-fed cows are unhealthy compared to grass-fed. But then, why are grain-fed chickens healthy? Well, the most straightforward answer is that chickens are unlike cows. They are different animals and have different tendencies and natures. There are reasons a grass-only diet works for cows and not for chickens.
100% pasture-raised chicken
It is important for chickens to be pasture-raised. Pasture-raised means chickens can have access to whatever food they want. While poultry farmers will provide them with the necessary grains and shelter when they need to come home, these chickens are otherwise free to roam and express their natural dispositions.
They can scratch the ground, eat worms and stones they need to digest. They can spread their wings and fly in their limited way. They can also peck at the grass and eat plants; very importantly, they are free to nest. Pasture-raised chickens lead infinitely free and happy lives compared to the horror-stricken lives of chickens raised in battery cages.
For consumers, selecting pasture-raised chickens and free-range eggs are essential. They are much more nutritious and clean, unlike battery cage chickens that suffer from osteoporosis, brittle bone conditions, and poor health overall. Pasture-raised eggs have 2-3 times higher nutritional benefits than factory-farmed ones.
The nature of chickens is different from cows. That is why grass-fed cows are possible, and grass-fed chickens aren’t. Cows can sustain on grass alone, but chickens are picky. They like rummaging for food and eat bits and pieces here and there that they find tastiest. They like having variety. They dig up seeds and insects and peck at tender roots. Chickens need high-calorie food in the little morsels they eat, and they cannot digest eating only grass.
There are many types of marketing scams in the poultry industry today. Some market pasture-raised chickens while their chickens only have access to pasture but eat toxic grains and receive hormone injections. This is still much better than battery-cage chicken and eggs, though they lack the nutrition density that comes from chickens finding their own food from pastures. It is always best to inquire about farms and how they raise their chicken before you buy chicken or eggs. And it is always better and safer to buy from local farms, which you can visit and access, rather than a packaged egg from the store.
The evolution of chickens
Chickens came from the junglefowl of south Asia, which lives in the jungle and eats seeds, fruits, insects, and plants. The original form of the junglefowl still exists today. They also do not lay so many eggs. These birds were domesticated around 8000 years ago and have been modified to suit the commercial demands of the society.
Today, chickens produce 300 eggs annually and grow very efficiently to produce meat within a few months. Chickens cannot live on only grass; just like their ancestors, the junglefowl couldn’t. Chickens need plenty of nutrition, including calcium and protein, to produce eggs and stay healthy.
Pasture-raised chickens are the best option.
If we need chickens to meet our basic needs, it makes sense to raise them in such a way that we get not just a slab of meat, but healthy, nutritious meat, and nutrient-dense eggs. Pasture-raised chickens are the best solution for our chicken needs, not battery-cage chickens or cage-free chickens.
Pasture-raised chickens need plenty of outdoor space to meet their varied diet needs. All the exercise and freedom to eat and nest as they like keeps them healthy and happy. And this, in turn, keeps their consumers healthy. Chickens would still eat lots of grain and are not as fit and healthy as jungle fowls, but pasture-raising our chickens is currently the best solution to factory farming.
Farmers also have to strike a balance in the space provided to chickens. Giving freedom to chicken does not mean they are allowed to roam wild because this would mean losing the chickens to predators. But they should strike a balance in giving them ample space within a specified boundary that would also ensure their safety.
While farming, it is important to look for a balance. Farmers cannot raise chickens by simply letting them roam free. They have to be fed with necessary grains to ensure their growth and egg production. One should not go into the extremes of battery cage farming and also not force chickens to eat only grass which is against their nature. The wisest thing to do would be to set them free within a protective boundary in pastures as well as provide them with a reliable food source like grains.
Farmers must also consider the type of grains that are fed to chickens to ensure their health and well-being. Its best to give them grain that is certified organic, locally grown, and free of chemical toxins. Responsible produced feed also ensures a better environment.
To conclude, the idea of grass-fed chickens is a misnomer. It is impossible and a myth. If there are 100% grass-fed chicken advertised, then it’s a marketing gimmick. Please don’t fall for it. Instead, look for pasture-raised chickens that grow and roam in pastures and receive a balanced diet.
Please read this article for an insight into the factory farming of chickens using battery cages.
