{{Short description|Sustainable agriculture technique}} {{Multiple issues| {{more citations needed|date=April 2015}} {{Globalize|article|USA|2name=the United States|date=January 2017}} }}
[[Image:Chickens seeking shade.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|A free range pastured chicken system]] '''Pastured poultry''', also known as '''pasture-raised poultry''' or '''pasture-raised eggs''', is a sustainable agriculture technique that calls for the raising of laying chickens, meat chickens (broilers), guinea fowl, and/or turkeys on pasture, as opposed to indoor confinement like in battery cage hens, or in some cage-free and free range setups with limited outdoor access. Humane treatment and the perceived health benefits of pastured poultry are causing an increase in demand for such products.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://certifiedhumane.org/free-range-and-pasture-raised-officially-defined-by-hfac-for-certified-humane-label/|title="Free Range" and "Pasture Raised" officially defined by HFAC for Certified Humane® label - Certified Humane|date=2014-01-16|newspaper=Certified Humane|language=en-US|access-date=2017-01-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.psu.edu/story/166143/2010/07/20/research-shows-eggs-pastured-chickens-may-be-more-nutritious|title=Research shows eggs from pastured chickens may be more nutritious {{!}} Penn State University|access-date=2017-01-17}}</ref>
Joel Salatin of Swoope, Virginia, helped to reintroduce the technique at Polyface Farm, and wrote his book ''Pastured Poultry Profits'' to spread the idea to other farmers. Andy Lee and Herman Beck-Chenoweth expanded on Salatin's techniques, and created some of their own.{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}}
The American Pastured Poultry Producers' Association (APPPA) was formed to promote pastured poultry. Its membership consists largely of pastured poultry farmers.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Publication : USDA ARS|url=https://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publication/?seqNo115=354016|access-date=2021-02-02|website=www.ars.usda.gov}}</ref>
Though pasture feeding improves the nutritive quality of ruminant meats, the effect of pasture feeding on poultry meat composition is not well established. One trial showed low impact of pasture feeding on vitamin E and fatty acid composition.<ref>Ponte, P.I.P et al..http://ps.fass.org/cgi/content/abstract/87/1/80 Influence of Pasture Intake on the Fatty Acid Composition, and Cholesterol, Tocopherols, and Tocotrienols Content in Meat from Free-Range Broilers. Poult Sci 2008. 87:80-88 2008. 2009-11-20</ref>
The pens that house the fowl can be made from wood and scrap metal or out of PVC pipe and white tarps.
Pastured poultry is also gaining popularity because it helps the farmer, through reducing capital costs, and increasing pasture fertility. It is very well suited for incorporation within a system of managed intensive grazing.{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}} [[Image:Kirbachhof_Gaense.jpg|thumb|Pastured geese]] Pastured poultry is not limited to chickens and turkeys. It includes a variety of other birds, including ducks, geese, and exotics in the poultry family.
In the United States, "pastured poultry" or "pasture-raised" claims for poultry are not defined by the United States Department of Agriculture. Because there is no legal definition of the term, producers are not required to verify their claims on food packaging, as long as they are not misleading.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How to Read Protein Food Labels for Meat, Seafood, Eggs, Etc. |url=https://labelsunwrapped.org/explore-labels/protein |access-date=2022-11-02 |website=Labels Unwrapped {{!}} Learn How to Read Food Labels}}</ref>
==See also== *Chickens as pets *Chicken tractor *Free range *Free-range eggs *Grass-fed beef *Heritage turkey *Organic eggs *Cage-free eggs *Battery cage hens *Yarding - fenced yard outside the poultry house
==External links== * [http://poultryone.com poultryOne's Guide to Raising Pastured Poultry] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060409135634/http://poultryone.com/ |date=2006-04-09 }} * [http://www.apppa.org American Pastured Poultry Producer's Association] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20090627044216/http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/poultryoverview.html Alternative Poultry Production Systems and Outdoor Access, from ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service] * [http://richsoil.com/raising-chickens.jsp RichSoil Article on Raising Chickens] * [http://www.permies.com/t/1958/chickens/chicken-coops-runs-tractors-paddocks Permies.com Thread About Raising Chickens] * [https://www.getfreerange.info Pastured Poultry Farms Listing] * [https://labelsunwrapped.org/explore-labels/protein Poultry and Eggs Overview], Labels Unwrapped
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Poultry}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pastured Poultry}}
Category:Animal feed Category:Animal welfare Category:Poultry farming Category:Sustainable agriculture