Pasture Raised Chicken: I'm Doing It Differently at Mission Farmstead

I’ve spent a lot of time over the past few years digging into how our food is raised. From sourcing bones for our dog treats to researching labels on beef and pork, it became clear how much gets hidden behind marketing terms.

A few weekends ago, a neighbor near the farm asked if I could help with a chicken harvest. As a kid, poultry processing days were never my favorite, but around here when another farmer asks for help, you show up. You never know when it’ll be you asking.

I figured I’d help where I could and learn a little in the process.

But the chickens opened my eyes more than I expected.

These birds weren’t exactly what I expected. They were heavy, sure. But most of them couldn’t move well or at all. They struggled to stand without tipping forward. Some were wheezing and a lot of them were missing most of their feathers.

They were only seven weeks old.

This is how most broiler chickens are raised in the U.S. They’re bred to grow fast and large, not for health or quality of life. They live in crowded barns. Their bones can’t always keep up with the weight they’re packing on. Some die before ever seeing daylight.

I’m planning to raise chickens at Mission Farmstead, but not like that.

What Is Pasture Raised Chicken?

Pasture raised chicken means birds live outdoors on fresh grass, not packed inside a barn with a single door to a gravel patch. These chickens move often, rotating through pasture so they always have access to clean ground, natural forage, and open air.

They move around, peck, scratch, and forage the way chickens were meant to. They build muscle by walking, not just by growing. The result is a healthier bird with better texture and flavor. Pastured poultry has a completely different feel than what most people are used to buying in stores.

Free Range Chicken vs Pasture Raised: What’s the Difference?

A lot of folks think pasture raised and free range mean the same thing. They don’t.

• Free range chickens are usually raised in large barns. Technically, there’s a door that leads outside but that door might stay shut, or open to a small dirt lot. There’s no guarantee the chickens ever go out, and no rule about how much space they get.
• Pasture raised chickens live outside. They’re rotated through fresh pastures and given space to move, forage, and live like real birds. They eat bugs, clover, seeds, and grass. They build strength naturally and stay cleaner and healthier.

That’s the model I plan to follow at Mission Farmstead.

Raising Broiler Chickens: What Most Farms Don’t Tell You

Most farms raise broiler chickens to grow as fast as possible. That’s the goal. Bigger birds in less time.

The problem is that this often leads to health issues. By the fifth or sixth week, the chickens are already close to full size, but their joints and lungs can’t always keep up. That weekend at my neighbor’s farm made that reality clear.

Even well-meaning farms can fall into the trap of growing for efficiency instead of health. That’s not what I want here.

Feeding Chickens Naturally

Chickens need more than just soy and corn pellets. They need a well balanced diet of things they’d find in nature like bugs, seeds, plants and minerals. 

Once we get our first flock going, I’ll be using organic, non-GMO feed alongside pasture rotations. My goal is to produce birds that grow strong. Not just fast.

How I’ll Approach Poultry Processing

Poultry processing is never the part anyone looks forward to. But it matters. A lot.

We’ll be doing small-batch poultry processing right here on the farm. We’ll use equipment that keeps the process quick and clean, and we’ll handle every bird with care and respect.

Like our approach to pasture raised beef and heritage pork, this is about transparency. People should know what they’re eating, and how it was raised.

Looking for Pasture Raised Chicken Near You?

If you’ve ever searched “pasture raised chicken near me,” you know how tough it is to find the real thing.

Labels don’t mean much. That’s why I’m building Mission Farmstead so people in Milford, Loveland, Goshen, and nearby can see how their food is raised.

We’re not there yet. But when we are, it’ll include chickens.

Until then, visit local farms. Ask how the birds are raised. Look for farmers who will show you the pasture.

That’s how you know it’s real.