Homegrown Pasture-Raised Chickens FAQs

June 10, 2022

Whole pasture raised chickens are one of our best kept secrets here on the farm.  They are so delicious, but very few people are used to purchasing and cooking whole chickens.  Here are some of our Frequently Asked Questions about our pasture-raised, whole chickens.

Whole Chicken FAQs

• How big is a whole frozen chicken?
  • They average 4.5 lbs. each. Typically, we have a range from about 3 lbs. to just over 5 lbs.
• How are they packaged?
  • A whole chicken is bagged and frozen.
• How long is a whole frozen chicken good for in my freezer?
  • Whole chicken is best used within a year. It will still be safe to eat after that as long as it has been continually frozen but may lose some quality.
• When will you have chickens again?
  • We typically raise a batch that is ready for the freezer in June and another batch that is ready for the freezer in October. In fall of 2022 we may move that batch sooner so it will be ready in the beginning of September.  Make sure to follow us on social media and sign up for our newsletter to get notified.
• What do the chickens eat?
  • The chickens start off on a chick starter for the first several weeks of their life and then move to a grower feed. This is a mix of grain we get from the feed mill made specifically for meat chickens.  At about 4 weeks of age (when they get their feathers) they move outside to the pasture.  They eat grass, alfalfa, and bugs along with their grain.
• Are they given any antibiotics?
  • No, the chickens do not get any antibiotics.
• Are they given any hormones?
  • No, they are not given any artificial/added hormones.
• Are they injected with salt water after they are processed? 
  • No, there is nothing added to them after they are processed.  They are plucked, washed in water, and bagged by our processor.  Nothing is added and they are not rinsed with anything besides water.
• Can you cut them up so I can just buy breasts, wings, legs, etc?
  • At this time, we only offer whole chickens.
• How many meals can you get out of a whole chicken?
  • We find a 4-5 lb. chicken will give our family of 5 at least two meals worth. We like to roast our chickens and then will make a second meal with the leftovers.  We typically have some pieces left after that for a couple sandwiches or quesadillas.
• How do you cook a whole chicken?
  • Whole chickens are easy to cook. You can roast them in the oven, put them in a slow cooker, or even on the grill.  Check out this blog post for some ideas of how to cook a chicken.

Interested in more information on the nutritional benefits of pasture-raised chicken?  Check out the infographic below.