"Pastured poultry" refers to a special way of
raising chickens. Using this model, chicks are put out on pasture at 3-4
weeks of age depending upon their growth and weather conditions.
Why on Pasture?
Chickens raised outside have a much better life than those raised in confinement
as is typical of the commercial poultry industry. Being outdoors allows the
chickens access to sunshine, grass and bugs. In addition, they are fed a
certified organic feed from day 1 on. This special diet and environmental
set-up makes for healthier, happier chickens. It also translates into
tastier, healthier food for your table.
Our
delicious chicken are processed at a USDA inspected processor and shrink wrapped
to keep nicely in your freezer. We offer a quantity discount for customers
who wish to purchase 20 or more chickens over the course of a year. You do
not need to get all of your chickens at once to take advantage of this special.
During the 2003 season, our first batch of chicks arrived
at the post office on April 23rd. Here our 4 year old son Ilya helps
our friend Jenny Dubiel pick up our boxes of chicks. My how he's grown
since then!
Three families went in on this order. Whenever possible, we try to
work together on a local level to raise healthy, chemical-free chickens for
local families and friends.
Ilya keeps our chicks company on the ride home.
175 baby chicks peeping made for a noisy ride home!
Once the baby chicks arrive home, we
individually dip each of their beaks in the water to teach them where and
how to drink.
This year, we are also trying a nipple waterer
in our brooder. The chicks are really attracted to the drop on the end
of each nipple.
The red light provides heat. Baby chicks
need a temperature of about 90 degrees their first week of life. After
that, the temperature is lowered by approximately 5 degrees per week.
The chickens are kept in moveable pens to
protect them from predators.
We share our home with a wide array of fox, coyote, mink, raccoon and
hawks. All of whom love chicken dinners!
The pen is moved each morning.
These pens were designed by Mike Hansen of
Gifts From the Good Earth.
Mike and his wife Deb and their family hosted an
APPPA field day at their farm in 2002.
During that event, Mike demonstrated how to build the pens. Click on
this link for a pdf of picures from that event:
Hansen Pens
All of our certified organic chicken feed is purchased from S&S
Grains in Arcadia. These chickens are never fed any antibiotics,
hormones or other unnatural additives and preservatives.
During 2003, we went to a pasture-based model which
included the moveable pen we used initially. In addition though, we added
an electric fence which provides the chickens with a much larger area to
roam and eat grass. We continue to use this "day range" model as we
believe it is better for the birds and for our land..
Chickens raised on pasture are cleaner and
healthier than those raised in confinement. This one is intent on
finding a delicious bug dinner in the grass!
Sasha and Ilya helping transfer chicks to their new pasture housing.
What a smile! :)
Now this is what we call "WINTER" housing.
Our chickens and turkeys always have access to the outdoors unless the temps
are below zero. However, on these cold snowy Wisconsin days, our
heritage breed turkeys are the only ones with a heart brave enough to step
foot in the snow.
Coon Creek Family
Farm
Vince & Julie Maro
Mondovi, WI
(715) 834-4547 cooncreekfarm@discover-net.net
Updated August 11, 2007
Pasture-Raised
Chicken
Our
delicious chicken are processed at a USDA inspected processor and shrink wrapped
to keep nicely in your freezer. We offer a quantity discount for customers
who wish to purchase 20 or more chickens over the course of a year. You do
not need to get all of your chickens at once to take advantage of this special.
