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January / February 2007
Raising Chickens - Then And Now
By Brian Murray
Many years ago when roads were unpaved and the lights were lit by lantern, most of our food was “Natural” or “Free-Range”. This was a simpler way of life, and most think a healthier way of living and eating. Over the last hundred years or so, we have become used to faster, cheaper, as well as more profitable- as justification for corporations to stay in business. To be fair this is what is needed for our large corporation, North American economy. Without competition we would be paying way too much for a lot of items, and would not have the growth we have seen in the last hundred years. The problem is “faster, cheaper and more profitable” is not always better for the consumer. The case in point is farm animals, with chickens being this topic.
Allowing chickens to go outdoors, eat grass and let the sun shine on their backs just sounds logical to most people. The birds appear to have stronger legs, more stamina and just seem to be happier. This might be in part to the outdoor lifestyle, which has less stressed conditions that the birds are being raised under. Another thing might be the slower rate at which they grow and reach market size. When raising “free range” most farmers won’t use the cheapest, fastest growing feed that is available. The quality of the product is more important than how fast it goes to market. Actually the lower protein feed fed to a lot of “free-range chickens”, will produce a lean chicken at a weight that is just right. It might take a little longer to grow but it is worth the wait.
Another concern is the use of antibiotics in “commercial flocks”. The use of antibiotics as a preventive measure is a controversy that we will not get into at this time, but will in the future. The certified free-range chicken producers of Nova Scotia, are not allowed to use any antibiotics at anytime during the raising of their flocks. This is a good thing for the consumer as there is no risk of antibiotic laden chicken getting to your table. The additional benefits are knowing that you are eating healthy chicken, that haven’t been doctored, as well as not potentially adding to the animal/human antibiotic resistance scare that has been talked about worldwide for the last decade or two.
Over the last few years the growth of the free-range chicken market has been strong and growing in North America. This is due in part to consumer awareness of “you are what you eat”. The growth is also helped by the fact the price of free-range chickens is competitive with the commercial flocks. You no longer have to pay a premium price to get top quality chicken. Purchasing from a local farmer helps the local economy, as well as saves money for the consumer. Eating well doesn’t have to cost a lot- you just have to be informed.
For more information you can contact Brian Murray at 499-3399 or send an email to info@bluebarn.ca
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