The Bovine Bugle

Why did the chickens cross the road? To get to their summer house and green grass!

Today was moving day for the meat bird and laying chicks (and Noah's rooster, of course). Space was getting pretty tight in their pen, and they were definitely old enough to go out and the weather conditions were great for starting them in their summer digs.

We first took the laying chicks and rooster out of the pen, put them in a cardboard box, and put them in their new home. They all huddled in the corner furthest from the door, not quite knowing what to make of their new surroundings. With that group situated, we backed up the lawnmower and trailer to the window located behind the pen holding the meat birds. Noah and I handed all 70 birds out the window to Karen, and she placed them in the trailer under the plywood covering. Slowly we drove across the road and into the pasture where the portable shelter, or "chicken tractor", was set up for the meat birds. Soon after placing them in the shelter they were waddling around, nibbling at the grass and finding where the grain feeder and waterer were located.

Seeing the chickens out on the lush, green grass in the sunshine and fresh air helps me see why the meat and eggs from these birds is so much better tasting and so much better for you than birds raised in crowded confinement operations. The same goes for the milk our cows are producing now that they are out grazing. My oldest son, Ben, commented on how much better the milk tastes when the cows are on grass. The milk has a sweet, fresh taste and has a rich, yellow color. Too bad we can't graze year 'round.

Jonathan, Howmars Farm
Franklin, Vermont

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Posted by Blogger Chris at June 10, 2005 04:36 PM