What is organic chicken farming?
Chicken farming can be classified into two types; intensive chicken farming and extensive. Growing chickens under factory conditions are intensive farming. It’s intensive because they are kept under artificial conditions that are alien to their physiological and metabolic activities. In contrast, extensive chicken farming allows chickens to grow under natural conditions.
So organic chicken farming is an extensive farming method that caters to chickens’ natural needs and tendencies. Needless to say, chickens that come from organic chicken farms are popular but not readily available or cheap as factory-raised broilers.
Organic chicken farming has innumerable benefits compared to conventional farming. And it benefits the welfare of chickens, farmers, and consumers alike. While factory farming chickens compromise the health of consumers in return for good profit and mass production, organic-farmed chickens are highly nutritious.
What is required for organic chicken farming?
Organic chicken farming differs from conventional farming methods in many aspects, such as housing requirements, nutrition, and health.
When building appropriate housing for chickens in an organic chicken farm, the most important thing to keep in mind is the comfort and welfare of the birds. We try to keep them as close as possible to their natural dispositions and provide space to express their tendencies freely. The number 1 rule any organic chicken farm follows is not to cage a chicken. Please read my depressing article on the use of battery cages to understand why caging chickens is cruel.
Birds reared under the indigenous organic systems are kept free but within a controlled range. Yes, the range has limits because any property of organic farms has limits, and we also cannot lose our chickens to predators.
The natural behaviors of chickens include ground scratching, foraging, nesting, sand bathing, and perching. While chickens need access to open ground and greenery, they also need a place of shelter.
Chicken coops in an organic chicken farm are built in such a way as to enhance even ventilation throughout and enhance the productivity of chickens. The longest side of the pen should be built to face the prevailing direction of the wind. And the housing must offer protection to chickens from predators and harsh outside elements.
Ideally, the environment of chickens also should have trees and plants that provide them with a natural a setting as possible. The litter material used to make the chickens’ floor and bedding should be non-toxic and safe for them. Wood shavings are the preferable material for litter.
In addition to the above requirements for chicken housing in an organic chicken farm, there must also be perching rails, dark seclusion areas for them to rest and nest comfortably, and open access outside. Perching rails are essential to allow them to fly whenever they want, and access outside allows them to scratch the ground for worms and insects, bathe in dust, or peck at plants. This is important because chickens need to eat small stones and pebbles to aid in digestion, and they need to eat insects like grasshoppers and worms to keep them healthy.
While green plants, grass, and insects found in the chickens’ environment would make a large part of their diet, it could still be insufficient if you are raising them for eggs or meat. Chickens cannot be 100% grass-fed because they are not herbivores. And they also require grains to supplement their diet. But in 100% organic farms, these grains would be brought for organic produce or consist of organic ingredients only. Please read my article on grass-fed chickens for additional information.
Organic chicken farms make it a point not to include anything synthetic or toxic in the realm of chickens. This includes growth hormones, medical drugs, and vaccinations. Instead, the good health of chickens is ensured through suitable bio-security measures and herbal immunity boosters. Some herbs proven to aid in curing chicken diseases are Tagiri, ginger, garlic, honey, and apple cider vinegar.
Chickens also suffer from ticks and parasites that are treated with powerful deworming drugs in commercial farms. As opposed to this, organic chicken farms use natural dewormers like pumpkin seeds, pawpaw leaves, and pawpaw leaf extract. These natural medicines eliminate worms without poisoning the chickens’ flesh or eggs which is harmful to consumers.
In addition, organic farms make use of raw honey and apple cider vinegar for the extra vitamin and mineral needs of chickens. They are not given artificial multivitamins to boost their health.
Are there any disadvantages to organic chicken farming?
Organic chicken farming is unarguably the best possible condition to farm chickens. But they do have a few downsides. For instance, they require a lot of space to let chickens run wild. And a poultry farmer also has to be very educated on the inherent nature of chickens, how to manage chickens in case of a disease outbreak, and regarding natural medications, etc., that work best for them.
You also have to provide documents and proof to obtain permits and certificates for your farm. The requirements for a quality farm are pretty high, and you have to meet all federal standards. In the United States, the Department of Agriculture represents the certified authority to emit permits for farmers.
Raising 100% organic chickens is challenging. It requires a lot of effort and passion, and the chickens need extra care than on a conventional farm. Finding organic feed for them and natural medicines is also not as straightforward or effective as using synthetic solutions.
Is organic chicken farming sustainable?
Organic chicken farming is the future of poultry. It provides consumers with excellent quality and highly nutritious meat and eggs without compromising the welfare of the birds. People are gradually becoming aware of the harmful effects of factory farming chickens, and some countries are even beginning to ban malpractices like battery cage systems.
Yes, organic chicken is sustainable and practical. Even when chickens are afflicted with diseases, they can be saved by herbal medications. Moreover, organic chickens are premium products. As much as it is challenging, it gives good profits. And most importantly, organic farming keeps animals happy. And happy, content animals are the building blocks of any successful farm.