Free range versus pellet fed chickens--- WARNING GRAPHIC pics

[milkmansdaughter]

We culled one of our hens today along with four young roosters. ALL five birds came from the same people, but we got the hen last summer, and the roosters last night.
We switched to Fermented Feed and free ranging at the end of October, so the hen has had 3 months of FF and free ranging. In case you can't guess, or have never seen the difference, our hen is the yellow one on the left. Here's the difference:
View attachment 5943

 

[Mini Horses]

Well she's been getting a fair share better fed than them! LOL

 

[milkmansdaughter]

I don't know why the first picture doesn't come up, but it should if you click on the link.

 

[Chic Rustler]

so fermented feed makes fatter chickens?

 

[Beekissed]

so fermented feed makes fatter chickens?

On less feed fed. Keep in mind, the two chickens being compared are an old hen and a cockerel...cockerels don't normally store fat like an older hen will, so the difference between the two is more marked.

Having said that, WR and WR mix cockerels raised here on free range and a dab of fermented feed are also showing larger fat stores in places roosters normally don't have them much.

 

[milkmansdaughter]

Thanks @Beekissed! But even if you don't look at the fat, the color of the meat was also completely different. The cockerels meat was white, while the hens meat had MUCH more color.

 

[Beekissed]

That's the fat layered within the muscle fibers...gives it a golden, rosy glow. The chicken version of marbling. Makes for a juicy bird.