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Why should you buy slow, standard bred and heritage chickens?

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We only offer 120 day old native Basilan chicken, traditionally bred and raised outdoors. 

What does this all mean? Are you aware of what kind of chicken you buy? Here's something you should know: In the late 40's poultry geneticists engineered a fast growing chicken known as a Cornish Cross (for the white broiler) and Freedom rangers (for the brown broiler.) Both are genetically engineered for maximum breast meat and maximum weight gain. Since then, this bird completely consumes the marketplace (it can even be certified organic.) 

But this breed grows at an unnatural, abnormally fast rate of 37 days! If humans grew at the same rate, we would weigh 260 pounds when we reach 2 years old! Because of this, the birds' legs cannot handle the weight and end up crippled within weeks after hatching. Their hearts cannot pump blood fast enough and often they die of heart failure. Their abnormal growth rate requires them a higher protein diet in many cases high percentages of GMO soybean and a mix of rendered animal by products . This breed also cannot reproduce on small and local farms. The genetics of are “owned” by the large poultry producers. *These chickens have been bred in cooler countries, imported in the Philippines and put out in the free range. The birds have thicker feathers than natives breeds. Thus, they suffer from heat stress on hot months and take much longer to dry during rainy months. For the chickens, it would be like running around with a fur coat in a tropical environment


What do we offer you instead? 

Poultry that grows at a normal, slow rate.  Heritage chickens take 120 days to get to a market weight of about 1.2 to 1.5 kilos. Our birds were grown for 120 days. They run around on pasture and develop muscles. This means normal organ development, more muscle and texture, more nutrients and stronger immunities.Ask the oldies: the longer a chicken lives the better it will taste!

We also give you a heritage, standard breed. Not only do they taste good, they can naturally reproduce. This breed was developed for this climate. We have also develop this from our own breeding flock! Our flock is quite sustainable! When a farmer is able to breed, grow and market his own fowls, he is no longer dependent upon the bigger producers.

Lastly, these heritage breeds were bred to be outside on pasture

NOTE: Many farmers in the pasture poultry movement, are taking industrialized, commercial poultry that were developed to grow in confinement and putting them out on pasture! That is not what they were created for! The best birds to raise outside are the old breeds that were meant to be on pasture; they run around, they eat bugs and grass.

How to cook it? These chickens are completely different. The general rule is, “low and slow.” Cooked longer at a lower temperature.

When you buy and eat these chickens, you support a local farm. Sustainable, heritage chickens provide security for our food system: Think about this. According to the FAO: 1 in 5 farm animals are in danger of extinction. By eating a traditionally bred, heritage chicken and creating a market for these breeds, you help to ensure these historical breeds are saved from extinction and passed on to the next generation. (Taken in part from the Sustainable USA Poultry Network.)

Lastly, here are the top (3) questions to ask before you buy/eat a chicken!

  1. What breed of chicken is this?
  2. At what age was this bird slaughtered? (if it is less than twelve weeks, it is not a slow growing breed)
  3. Describe to me how this bird was raised? Was it raised on pasture, outside?

As a consumer of chicken, do your homework! Research what you are eating, especially chicken! 


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