There are still some farmers who believe in treating their animals to natural surroundings, not only in order to raise healthier animals but for ethical values as well. On a small farm in the Shenandoah Valley near Swoope, Virginia, Joel Salatin is doing just that with his chickens.

"The long term benefits for society are greater because we are treating our animals better. But we don't do it for business reasons. We do it because it's right." Salatin explained.

Salatin has developed a portable "Eggmobile" contraption which houses 100 laying hens. These hens forage as far as 200 yards from their home during the day. They naturally come back to roost so no fences are necessary to keep them contained. Salatin explained that on the usual "factory farm" laying hens are kept under prolonged lighting to create the illusion of spring time. They are therefore always laying eggs. On the Salatin family farm the hens are well aware of what season it is and go through the natural winter rest period.

Salatin also raises about 6000 Cornish cross broilers a year. These chickens are kept in 2 foot tall mobile homes that are moved over fresh grass every morning. About 100 animals are kept in each house. A pen of the same size on a factory farm would contain some 1000 to 1500 birds.

Both hens and broilers have a diet that is substantially different from their unlucky relatives on factory farms. Because the hens are free-ranging they are able to choose their own food. Not only is this accomplished by natural foraging but Salatin gives them several different feeds to chose from as well. He believes, depending on each individual chicken's health and the time of year, these birds will choose the food that is healthiest for them. Since the broiler houses are moved to fresh grass every morning, the broilers also have the same opportunity to choose their own diet. Both hens and broilers obviously get plenty of green material, something that would be unusual on a factory farm and they are never given steroids or antibiotics which induce unnaturally rapid growth. One of the results, and also the reason why it is economically sensible to raise animals in such a manner, is that the lifespan of a laying hen on Joel Salatin's farm is generally three years compared to a normal factory farm lifespan of one year.

AWI Quarterly