A Healthier Way Forward

Looking for a pastured poultry supplier? Search our directory of pastured poultry farmers  on the Get Real Chicken website. 

"Pasture raised" poultry describes a method of raising poultry where the birds move to fresh pasture often. They live a majority of their lives ON pasture—not in a barn that never moves. Chickens in a stationary barn that only provide access to pasture may never go outside the barn—And that's not pasture raised!

Pastured Poultry Nutrition Highlights

Compared to non-pastured chicken and eggs, pasture raised chicken and eggs have the following nutritional benefits:

Pasture Raised Chicken:

  • 91% more Omega 3 fatty acids
  • 52% less saturated fats
  • 407% more Vitamin E

Pasture Raised Eggs:

  • 286% more Omega 3 fatty acids
  • 13% less saturated fats
  • 73% more Vitamin A
  • 200% more Vitamin E

Sources for Healthier Way Forward

The following sources provide the information presented in Healthier Way Forward. 

  • "Nutritional Analysis of Pastured Poultry Products" by Barb Gorski. APPPA Grit. Winter 2000.
  • "Pasture and Feed Affect Broiler Carcass Nutrition” by Mike Badger. APPPA Grit. March/April 2014.

Additional Research & Sources

The following resources provide a broad picture of how the nutrition of eggs and chicken meat change as a result of the supplemental diet provided by pasture forage. While the broader body of research corroborates the nutritional benefits of pasture raised eggs and chicken, Healthier Way Forward cites the research published by APPPA.

    • "Chemical composition of eggs produced under battery, deep litter and free range conditions," Tolan, Jean Robertson, et. al. British Journal of Nutrition, 31, 185. 1974.
    • "Effect of free-range feeding on n-3 fatty acid and a-tocopherol content and oxidative stability of eggs," Lpoz-Bote, C.J. et. al. Animal Feed Science Technology 72 1998 33–40. "Fatty acid composition of breast meat in two lines of slow-growing chickens reared conventionally or on pasture,"
    • Popova, Teodora, et. al. Maya. Food Science and Applied Biotechnology, [S.l.], v. 1, n. 1, p. 70-76, mar. 2018."Meet Real Free-Range Eggs," Long, Cheryl; Alterman, Tabitha. Mother Earth News. October/November 2007.
    • "Nutritional Analysis of Pastured Poultry Products," Gorski, Barb. APPPA Grit, Issue 11, Winter 2000.
    • "Pasture and feed affect broiler carcass nutrition," Badger, Mike. APPPA Grit, Issue 80, March/April 2014.
    • "Vitamins A, E and fatty acid composition of the eggs of caged hens and pastured hens," Kartsten, H.D., et al. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems: 25(1); 45-54. 12 January 2010.

Thank you, Contributors

APPPA would like to thank these contributors for their generous support of "Healthier Way Forward with Pastured Poultry"

4MGFarm in Texas

B&C Farm in Texas

BCS Chicken in Texas

Blackland Farm & Cattle in Texas

Born Again Pastures in Florida

Brian Anhalt in Wisconsin

Bright Ide Acres in Washington

Barber Farm in Michigan

Earnest Roots Farm in Alabama

Fallowfield Farms in Pennsylvania

Integrated Farms in Ontario

Jhawk Farm in Kansas

JPR Acres in Minnesota

Morning Star Family Farm in Wisconsin

Mountain Meadow Farm in New Jersey

Nature's Gourmet Farm in Mississippi

Pasturebird in California

Pleasant Pastures in Pennsylvania

Rainbow Acres Farm in Virginia

Serendipity Farms in Michigan

Stony Mountain Ranch in Pennsylvania

Sugar River Farm in New Hampshire

Sweet Gum Farm in Alabama

The Old Fashioned Farmstead in Florida

Thomas Wind in Iowa

Triple 7 Ranch in Oklahoma

Twin Fowls Farm in Idaho

Valley Grass Farm in Ohio

Veterans Farming Initiative in Minnesota

Village Acres in Pennsylvania

Wadson's Farm in Bermuda

Whiffletree Farm in Virginia

Whiskey Creek Ranch in Briitish Columbia

Whitworth Family Farms in Tennessee

William Wellman in New York

Windy Meadows Family Farm in Texas


Consumer Guide

We want to empower consumers to buy real pastured poultry. Become an informed consumer and get exactly what you expect.


Learn How to Buy Pastured Poultry

Pastured Poultry Difference

With constant access to fresh pasture, pastured poultry is better for the chickens, the land, and the people. 

Pastured poultry:

  • connects you to the face behind the food.
  • turns manure into an asset that builds fields, soils and wildlife ecology.
  • imparts a deeper flavor and firmer texture.
  • reduces the need for antibiotics, medications, and coccidiastats. 
  • harnesses the good things about nature.
  • empowers local and rural economies.

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Membership At a Glance

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  • Members-only discussion group
  • Members-only content and APPPA Grit archives
  • Free classified ads
  • Find new customers and networking opportunities
American Pastured Poultry Producers Association
PO Box 85 Hughesville, PA 17737  USA


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