March 10, 2008

Basically, all you have to do is raise them as free-range poultry, so they can choose what they want to eat.

When chickens (as well as cattle, pigs and other livestock) are allowed to eat their natural diet, numerous studies have shown that their eggs, milk and meat tends to be richer is several important nutrients (see www.eatwild.com for lots of details). Tests conducted by Mother Earth News found that, compared to the standard values reported by the USDA for commercial eggs, hens raised on pasture produced eggs with two-thirds more vitamin A, twice the omega-3 fatty acids, three times more vitamin E and seven times more beta carotene. The tests also showed that pastured eggs had one-third less cholesterol and a quarter of the saturated fat. In addition, fresh eggs from pastured hens taste better and provide more “lift” in baked goods.

The more you can allow your birds to range freely, the more they can enjoy a diverse diet of insects, and the better their eggs will be. (They eat lots of pests — see Poultry Pest Patrol for more information.) Pastured poultry also help control herbaceous intruders such as grass, clover, insects and weed seeds. To keep them safe from predators, yet still allow them to graze, you can house them in a lightweight portable pen like this easy-to-make portable mini-coop.