Get your meat chickens here!

We are happy to announce our first round of meat birds for the season! These birds will be raised on grass pasture (similar to our egg-layers), however, they’ll be in mobile coops so that they can be rotationally grazing instead of digging holes in one patch of earth. As Joel Salatin says, they’ll be getting a fresh salad bar on a daily basis! In an attempt to keep ahead of the questions everyone will have, here are some that we’ve been asked:

1. How much will they cost? – We require a $5 non-refundable deposit per bird. The pricing will be $3.50/lb, picked up from our farm in Fenton. To be clear the deposit is simply to reserve the bird (or birds) for you and will not count toward the final price.
2. When will they be available? –  This round will be available on or after the 31st of May. We will be trying to do several cycles of chickens this year, so if you cannot swing it this time, you’ll have a few more chances.
3. How many birds are available? –  Approximately 75 for this round. We do have more than that, but we gotta eat too. 🙂
4. Great! How can I reserve some chickens? – Well, we accept cash (who doesn’t?), check, Dwolla, or Paypal. Please contact us for a total amount before submitting payment.
5. Wait, what is Dwolla? – Click on the link and read. It’s a great way to pay that we highly encourage.
6. I’m a Farm Share Owner, can I use my share funds toward the deposit and final cost of the chicken? – Yes! And by doing so, you are receiving what effectively amounts to a 15% discount.
7. I’m hungry for chicken. – Yes, so are we. And soon, we can all feast on some awesome grass pastured chickens.

If there is something that I haven’t covered, let me know. 🙂

Thanks!

EDIT 4/5/2012 6:56 pm : Going to add some more Q&A below as these things arise!

1. Do the chickens come whole? – YES, they are whole and vacuum-sealed.
2. Can I get the chicken cut up into pieces, and how much will it cost? – YES! There will be a $1 charge per bird for the cutting service. The chicken will come cut up into 8 pieces, vacuum-sealed.  This is the price we pay to the processor directly – there is no mark-up.  We will need to know prior to the processing date that you want to opt for this service.
3. Can I get the giblets, neck and or/feet? – Possibly! Let’s talk about it. This really depends upon how many birds you purchase – for instance, the processor does not have the capability to bag individual organ meats. But say, you order a dozen chickens, we can work with the processor to make that happen.
4. Will the chicken be fresh or frozen? – This depends on when you pick it up. If you pick it up the evening of processing (which works great for us!) it will be fresh. If you can’t pick it up that evening, they will be frozen.
5. Why is it so expensive? – Yes, these chickens are more expensive than the ones you’d purchase in the supermarket, or perhaps even from other farms. The thing you need to know is that it costs more to raise them in a manner that is humane. Cheap chicken is cheap because corners are cut and the birds quality of life is diminished (as are its nutrients, and stressed birds result in more bacteria), or it is because the operation is being subsidized by someone else, whether it’s government subsidies for factory farms (which you ultimately pay through your taxes), or a small farmer who is undercharging and losing money. In the latter case, how do you think that farmer is going to be able to continue offering you chicken at a cheap price over time? It’s not sustainable for them to subsidize your food. They will either
   have to raise their prices, or stop raising chickens for sale to others. We want to offer you chickens that have been raised in a caring fashion so that they provide you the most nutrient-dense food on your plate. This is why we charge a price that reflects fairly what it costs us to raise them.

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