From lunaj@BCC.ORST.EDU Wed Aug 31 00:27:46 1994 Date: Tue, 30 Aug 94 14:13:14 PDT From: lunaj@BCC.ORST.EDU To: sanet-mg@ces.ncsu.edu Subject: Free Range Chickens One exempary operation involving a system of movable cage "free range" chickens is that of Joel Salatin in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. These birds are contained in open-bottomed cages which are moved daily across pasture fields. The birds are sold in advance to subscription customers, killed and cleaned in an on-farm facility, and picked up on the day of slaughter by the customer. The quality of the meat from birds who have lived outdoors, eaten fresh forage daily and had the opportunity to have sunshine, fresh air, and exercise is phenomenal. It is not comparable to factory-raised meat at all. Joel has produced a manual entitled "Pastured Poultry Manual" is available for $15. This manual describes the process as well as the enterprise budgets. He has also developed a video on his technique. Contact Joel Salatin 703 885-3590, Rt. 1 Box 281 Swoope, VA 24479. John M. Luna Department of Horticulture 4143 Agriculture & Life Sciences Bldg. Oregon State University Corvallis, OR 97331 503-737-5430 FAX 503 737-3479 E-mail LUNAJ@bcc.orst.edu