If you received our "chicken letter", we included a sheet that provided much of the below information about our operation here at Sojourn Farms. Please feel free to contact us with additional questions. We look forward to hearing from you.
Are these chickens organic?
Yes. From the first day the chicks arrive from the hatchery, they are supplied exclusively with certified organic feed. We use a combination of locally produced Rogue poultry mix, and whole grain wheat. The birds also graze on our 100 acres of clean pasture. While the pasture is not certified organic, Sojourn Farms' fields have been both herbicide and pesticide free for the nearly 20 years the farm has been the in the family.
What is pastured poultry?
Simply put, “pastured poultry” describes birds that spend their life out on pasture. Pastured chickens typically consume 20% of their diet in fresh grass, legumes, and bugs, all of which satisfy their natural appetite. They can scratch around, pull worms… in short, be real chickens.
Is this “free range”?
Yes. The government standard for “free range” only requires that the birds have access to a small yard area for the last two weeks of life. There is no requirement that the birds actually ever see the light of day or touch a blade of grass, and in fact many never do. Our methods go beyond this standard by raising them on the range within 48 hours of arriving from the hatchery.
How does our product compare to store-bought chicken?
Most poultry that you buy in the supermarket has been chilled in a water bath causing the skin and meat to absorb up to 12% water. In contrast, our birds are air chilled, giving you more meat for your money. Proportionally, our chicken will have same large breasts and thighs you have come to expect. The meat is similarly white, but typically moister and firmer due to better muscle tone and less water. Our broilers are delivered chilled in a shrink-wrap bag ready for the freezer or cooking.
Why is our price higher?
Raising a chicken on quality organic feed and whole grains costs more than one raised on pellets. Moving them daily to fresh pasture takes more effort than shutting them in a stationary pen. We also allow our birds over 50% more time to physically develop, avoiding many of the health problems that plague mainstream practices. In order to cut costs, commercial animals are fed an unnaturally rich diet, causing them to attain slaughter weight within the first 6 weeks of life. This pattern of growth is so unhealthy for the bird, that often, had the bird not been slaughtered young, it would have soon died on its own. Our method is more labor intensive and costs more, but we feel it is best for the animal, the environment, and our customers.
Do you use antibiotics or arsenic (trade name Roxarsone)?
No. Both of these additives (antibiotics for disease control and arsenic for rapid growth) are answers to problems that do not exist in our method of husbandry. Instead, we rely on nature’s recipe for good health. We provide our animals a diet rich in fresh greens and whole grain. Their bedding is changed daily; they have plenty of room to exercise and time to relax in the Oregon summer sunshine.
How are the animals processed?
Butchering takes place on the farm where the chickens were raised. This is most humane for the animal, and eliminates the off taste that transportation stress can cause in the meat. At the time of slaughter, the bird is humanely knocked unconscious with a specially developed electric pulse. Once dressed, they are quickly cooled using modern sanitary equipment.
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