Pasture-raised Chicken FAQs

Whole pasture raised chickens are one of our best kept secrets here on the farm.  They are so flavorful and can give you several meals out of one chicken with a little planning.  Here are some of our Frequently Asked Questions about our pasture-raised, whole chickens.

Whole Chicken FAQs

1. How big is a whole frozen chicken?
   1. They typically have averaged 4 lbs. each. The batch we just had processed in the fall of 2022 averaged 7 lbs!  Why were they so big this time?  Great question…we had very mild weather during the 8 weeks of raising this batch of meat birds and we switched to a different mill for our non-gmo chicken feed.  Those are the only two factors that were different this time around, so it seemed to be the perfect recipe for growing good size chickens.
2. How are they packaged?
   1. A whole chicken is vacuum sealed in plastic and frozen.
3. Are they inspected?
   1. Yes, during processing they are USDA inspected.
4. How long is a whole frozen chicken good for in my freezer?
   1. 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.
5. When will you have chickens again?
   1. We typically raise a batch that is ready for the freezer in June and another batch that is ready for the freezer in October. Make sure to follow us on social media and sign up for our newsletter to get notified.  You can check our website here for current availability or to reserve chickens.
6. What do the chickens eat?
   1. The chickens start off on an organic chick starter for the first several weeks of their life and then move to a non-gmo grower feed. This is a mix of non-gmo 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.
7. Are they given any antibiotics?
   1. No, the chickens do not get any antibiotics.
8. Are they given any hormones?
   1. No, they are not given any artificial/added hormones.
9. Are they injected with salt water after they are processed?
   1. No, there is nothing added to them during processing.  They are plucked, washed in water, and bagged by our processor.
10. Can you cut them up so I can just buy breasts, wings, legs, etc?

10. 1. In June 2023 we were able to get some cut up. We are hoping to get them cut up again in 2024 again, it will just depend on our processor’s schedule.
11. How many meals can you get out of a whole chicken?
    1. We find a 6 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 chicken quesadillas.
12. How long does it take to thaw a whole chicken?
    1. We typically put a frozen chicken in our refrigerator about 2-3 days before we want to cook it so it can thaw. It takes a while for them to fully thaw.  You can set it in a 9x13 pan and cut the packaging open so it will thaw better on the inside and all the mess will be easy to clean up.
13. How do you cook a whole chicken?
    1. Whole chickens are easy to cook. You can roast them in the oven, put them in a slow cooker, or even on the grill.  
14. How much freezer space do I need?
    1. This may depend on the size of the chickens and what else you have in the freezer. Here is a good visual of how much chicken, beef, and pork you could fit in a typical chest freezer.