In recent years, pasture-raised chicken has become more popular because it has many advantages over conventionally raised chicken. Birds that are raised on pastures are free to move around on the pastures and eat grass, seeds, and bugs. When compared to chickens raised in crowded indoor facilities, these chickens are healthier, happier, and lay more nutritious meat and eggs.
If you want to start enjoying the superior flavor and nutrition of pasture raised chicken you may be wondering where you can find it near you. Here are some tips on where to look and what to look for when buying pasture raised chicken close to home
Check Local Farmer’s Markets
Farmer’s markets are a great place to find local, pasture raised meats like chicken Get to know the farmers and ask them questions about how they raise their chickens Look for farmers that give their chickens continuous outdoor access, move them frequently to fresh pasture, and don’t use antibiotics or hormones. The chicken should be processed at a local butcher so it’s fresh, not frozen. Shopping at farmer’s markets supports small, local farms in your community.
Look for CSAs That Offer Pastured Chicken
Community supported agriculture, or CSA, is what the letters stand for. With a CSA, you buy a share ahead of time and get seasonal farm products like pasture-raised meats, produce, and eggs on a regular basis. Some CSAs offer whole pastured chickens, packages of chicken parts, or ground chicken. This is an easy way to get pastured chicken that comes straight from a farm to your door every week.
Check With Local Specialty Butchers
Many local butchers partner with small farms in their area to sell pastured meats. Look for butchers that work with farms raising chickens on pasture without antibiotics or hormones. They may carry whole birds as well as cuts like breasts, thighs, and drumsticks. You can ask questions about the source and discuss custom orders too.
Search Online Direct From Farms
There are more and more small farms that sell their pastured chicken directly to customers online. Look for things like “pastured chicken delivery near me” or “online pasture raised chicken.” To make sure the chickens live outside on pasture, read about how they run their farm. A lot of farms will send you frozen chicken packed with dry ice right to your door. Online shopping is easy and gives you more choices than just buying from local farms.
Check Health Food Stores and Co-ops
Some natural health food stores and food co-ops work with regional farms to sell their pastured chicken. Look for whole birds as well as cuts like boneless breasts, thighs, drumsticks, wings, and ground chicken. Talk to store staff about where the chicken comes from and how it was raised. Stores with butcher counters may even be able to do special orders for you.
Look for Pastured Chicken At Restaurants
More and more chefs are looking for high-quality ingredients from nearby farms, like pastured chicken. Check the menus and ask restaurants if they get any of their meat or eggs from birds that are raised freely. Some may even list the farms they work with. You can then look into buying directly from those farms.
Review Product Labels Carefully
When shopping in grocery stores, read chicken product labels closely. Look for labels like “pasture raised” and certifications like Certified Humane, Animal Welfare Approved, and American Grassfed. Don’t assume “natural” or “free-range” means pasture raised. Contact companies to ask for specifics on how their chickens are raised if it’s unclear.
Join a Buying Club
Joining a cow or chicken share buying club lets you split bulk orders of meat from farms with other families to save money. Club members coordinate large orders and distributions. This increases access to locally raised, pastured chicken that may be too expensive for one family to buy independently.
Check Online Listings of Pastured Producers
There are some great online databases listing farms across the U.S. that sell pastured meats. For example, Eatwild.com has an extensive listing of pasture based farms searchable by state and product. Other sites like LocalHarvest.org and WestonAPrice.org have similar pastured producer directories.
Talk to Other Pastured Chicken Buyers
Connect with friends, family, or coworkers that buy pastured chicken. Ask where they get it from and if they’re happy with the quality, taste, and price. Word of mouth can be a great way to discover new sources for high-quality, local pasture raised chicken.
Be Willing to Expand Your Search Area
You may need to expand your search area beyond just your immediate vicinity to find more pastured chicken suppliers. While it’s ideal to buy as locally as possible, don’t limit yourself to only the closest farms. High-quality, pasture raised chicken can be worth driving a bit farther or having it shipped from another part of your state.
Consider Splitting a Whole Chicken
Whole pastured chickens are often more economical than buying individual parts. Consider splitting a whole chicken with a friend or neighbor. You each get your preferred cuts, save money, and avoid waste. Freezing what you can’t use right away retains freshness too.
Check Frozen Inventory Too
Don’t forget to check the frozen section when looking for pastured chicken at stores, farms, CSAs, and butcher shops. High-quality, pasture raised chicken frozen at peak freshness soon after processing can be just as nutritious and delicious as fresh chicken. Expanding to include frozen helps increase your chances of finding pastured poultry near you.
With the growing popularity of pasture raised meats, it’s getting easier to find high-quality sources close to home. Be diligent in your research and ask lots of questions to ensure the chicken was raised humanely on pasture without drugs or hormones. Connecting with ethical local farms provides your family with healthier chicken while supporting more sustainable agriculture. So get out there and start exploring all the options for pastured chicken in your neck of the woods.
PASTURE RAISED – CORN FREE – SOY FREE – REGENERATIVE
We’ve set the gold standard for nutrient density and ethical farming. Since starting with 50 birds in our Southern California backyard in 2012, we have never compromised on our values. Today, our grass fed meats continue to be a testament to our passion for providing wholesome, ethically raised products you can nourish your family with.
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Pastured Chicken – Where to Buy
FAQ
What is pasture raised chicken?
Pasture Raised Chicken goes beyond free range and organic. Our pasture raised chickens live outside 24/7 with no antibiotics or drugs. Instead, we rotate our pasture raised chickens to fresh grass every single day to ensure they can peck and scratch for bugs, worms, grasses, and seeds.
Where can I find organically raised pork & chicken?
If you’ve been looking for locally grown, organic Grass Fed beef in Hope, NJ, Beaver Brook Ranch is a 3rd generation family-owned farm in Hope, NJ. We raise premium quality 100% grass fed beef, woodland/pasture-raised, Non-GMO pork & chicken.
Why is pasturebird chicken better than traditional chicken?
Pastured poultry regenerates pasture, builds soil and gives back to the land. A varied diet of bugs, grass, legumes, and grains contributes to the health, taste, and nutrition of the final product. Pasturebird chicken is always free of GMOs and antibiotics and has more vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids than regular chicken.
How do I find farms near me?
Try searching for a town or city near you. Then zoom out on the map until you start to see farms. The results will automatically filter based on your view of the map. And you can move the map around to re-center it. Tell the farms you find about Get Real Chicken when you find one or more close by.
Is pasturebird chicken GMO free?
Pasturebird chicken has higher vitamin, mineral and fatty acid content than traditional chicken, and is always non-GMO and antibiotic-free. Error validating access token: The user has not authorized application 1849038241810047. Subscribe for special offers, farm fun + recipes! © 2025 Pasturebird. All rights reserved. Site by Basis.
Where can I buy grassfed meat in New Jersey?
Visit our New Jersey Beyond the Farm page for markets, stores, restaurants and buying clubs that offer grassfed products. The following farms and ranches have certified that they meet Eatwild’s criteria for producing grassfed meat, eggs and dairy products. Contact them directly for additional information or to buy their products:
How to find pasture raised chicken?
To find pasture-raised chicken, start by searching online for local farms or farmers’ markets that sell poultry. You can also explore online directories like EatWild.com or Get Real Chicken.
Is pasture raised chicken worth it?
Pasture-raised chicken meat tends to be higher in iron, higher in Omega 3, have a lower Omega 6:3 ratio, and be higher in antioxidants (Vitamin E, for example).
Does Whole Foods sell pasture raised chickens?
Whole Foods Market , Pasture Raised Whole Chicken, 16 Ounce. FREE grocery delivery is available to Prime members.
How can you tell if chicken is pasture-raised?
How to identify pasture-raised meat just by looking at it. More neutral smell. Mildly earthy. More metallic or chemical smell, which is often attributed to the chlorine baths commonly used during processing.