Raising our chickens on pasture in the interior of Alaska is a deliberate choice driven by our commitment to quality, sustainability, and animal welfare. Unlike conventional poultry operations, we believe that allowing our chickens to forage on fresh grass, insects, and local feed results in healthier, more flavorful meat. Pasture-raising also gives our birds access to sunlight and fresh air, contributing to their overall well-being. However, doing so in Alaska presents unique challenges, including extreme weather conditions, a short growing season, and the ever-present threat of predators such as foxes, hawks, and bears. Despite these hurdles, we are dedicated to managing these risks through secure, mobile coops, strategic timing, and diligent oversight to ensure our birds thrive.
Timing is everything when raising chickens in Alaskaās harsh climate. With long, cold winters and an unpredictable shoulder season, we must carefully plan our operations to maximize the short summer months. We aim to have our birds on pasture during the warmest and most productive time of the year, ensuring they get the most benefit from natural foraging before winter forces us to shut down operations. Proper planning for brooding, feeding, and processing is crucial, as any delays could mean battling early frosts or sudden temperature drops. While raising chickens on pasture in Alaska is not easy, we believe the benefits far outweigh the challenges, allowing us to provide our customers with high-quality, locally raised meat while maintaining ethical and sustainable farming practices.
Easy to clean & great for keeping the predators away! The chickens enjoyed the warmth.
We enjoy seeing how happy the chickens are when we check on them twice daily. We feed our chickens mealworms, fresh grass, and a high protein feed.Ā
When the chicks are big enough and have feathers, we like to put them out on the pasture for exercise and fresh air. Plus, they enjoy the Salad Bar of fresh grass to eat!
Our processing station is a critical part of ensuring the quality and safety of our pasture-raised chickens. Once the birds reach market weight, processing must be done efficiently and with precision to maintain freshness. Since poultry is highly perishable, it is crucial to move quickly from butchering to chilling. Immediately after processing, the birds are placed in an ice-water bath to rapidly bring down their temperature, preventing bacterial growth and preserving meat quality. Once properly chilled, the chickens are packaged and moved into the freezer as quickly as possible to lock in freshness. With Alaskaās short farming season, processing must be carefully scheduled to align with the right temperatures and avoid unexpected weather changes. This step is not just about efficiency; itās about delivering the highest quality product to our customers while respecting the hard work that went into raising each bird.Ā