The Challenges of Pasture Raised Chicken!

Eight weeks ago we brought home 22 day old chickens. This was our first foray into the Joel Salatin world of raising chickens in an ethical natural way on grass. Now with 15 chickens left alive, several full scale chicken housing crisis, and some shocking revelations…. we are ready to send these boys and girls to the freezer!

Things I learned:

1. No matter how cold it is outside, do NOT bring your box of 2 day old chicks in the house and put them in the basement by your wood burning fireplace near all the house vents. Ever want to experience the nastiest odour ever? Warm up some baby meat birds and then pipe the smell through your house. I have a rule. NO LIVESTOCK IN THE HOUSE.  Once again, my husband has to learn NOT to violate this particular decree. Nothing good ever happens when you bring the barnyard into your house.
2. Did you know chick starter food actually comes with antibiotics right in it? Our first fail trying to do this naturally. We had no idea antibiotics are right in the food. More research and experimentation to come on this subject matter. Apparently if you don’t feed them antibiotics your death toll will be much higher.
3. Chicks squish each other to death. Even if you give them lots of space. We moved the babies into my horse trailer for a few weeks. This way we could have a heating lamp and not have them die from exposure. But they still manage to get smushed.
4. After they were moved into their homemade chicken tractor (a moveable shelter that you can push up and down a field) we learned these thing eat and drink a lot. And double in size every few days! Crazy. Plus they poop. A lot.