Petaluma Poultry

FAQ

Petaluma Poultry® offers a complete line of natural and organic chicken made with our pioneering protocols: raised with no antibiotics, no added hormones or preservatives EVER, and always 100% vegetarian fed. Since Petaluma started selling natural meats in 1986, we’ve led the way in defining “natural” and “organic” raising practices, which now represent the highest standard for meat raising and production in the today.

Petaluma Poultry strives to provide the safest, best quality meat products, while adhering to the highest industry standards pertaining to the humane treatment and handling of animals.

Following is a list of frequently asked questions.

How does Petaluma Poultry define "natural" chicken?

Natural chickens are found in many stores across the country and meet the broadly-defined USDA guidelines for using the word "natural" on their label. These guidelines state that any product may be labeled natural if it does not contain any artificial flavoring, coloring ingredients, chemical preservatives or any other synthetic ingredients, and the product is minimally processed.

The USDA natural claim represents little more than a minimal standard. Specifically, it does not address growing methods and in particular, the use of antibiotics or growth enhancers for livestock and poultry. And, even with a USDA natural label, it is legally possible to offer naturally grown livestock or chickens that have been fed antibiotics. In fact, any conventionally grown chicken can qualify for this natural claim as stated in the USDA guidelines.

Petaluma Poultry defines a "natural" chicken as one that is raised without antibiotics for its entire life, fed a vegetarian diet without the use of animal fat or animal by-products, raised in a stress-free environment and treated in a humane manner at all times.

Certified organic chicken takes the raising of chickens to a new level and creates an entirely new category of products for the consumer. "Certified organic" chickens are different from "natural" chickens because they are fed a certified organic diet, raised without antibiotics and use a third party certifier to verify the manner in which they are raised. ROSIE offers the consumer another choice responding to the growing awareness and demand for organic products.

How were standards set for raising an organic chicken? Who is Oregon Tilth?

The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) was formed ten years ago to advise USDA on uniform standards for the production of all organic products. The NOSB Livestock Committee has developed standards for organic poultry along with the California Organic Food Advisory Board and the Organic Trade Association. Third party certifiers verify that products labeled "organic" have met these strict standards.

Oregon Tilth is a nonprofit research and education organization dedicated to environmentally sound agriculture. They are among the 33 nationally accredited organizations that develop standards and procedures which meet the provisions of federal and state laws as well as the requirements for accreditation by the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM).

Are chickens fed hormones?

Despite numerous marketing and labeling statements by some producers, hormones have not been used anywhere in the poultry industry for over 35 years. Prior to 1960 or so, before being replaced by selective breeding and feed revisions, hormones were used to aid in body conformation and for calming bird temperament.

What does Antibiotic-Free mean?

Antibiotic-free means that ROCKY Chickens are NEVER fed antibiotics at anytime during their life. Their body tissue is totally free of any antibiotics. We are able to raise ROCKY Chickens without antibiotics by focusing on good husbandry practices, such as increased growing space per bird, reduced stress and improved sanitation practices.

Why do we not use antibiotics in our poultry?

We believe that the long term use of antibiotics represent a biological and environmental threat. The long term usage of a particular antibiotic in food animals may allow the development of genetically specific resistant bacteria. If these resistant bacteria from the food supply are passed into a bacteria that infects humans, usage of this particular antibiotic against cross resistant bacteria may become ineffective and could lead to prolonged sickness, slower recovery, and possible death.

Increased use of antibiotics in food animals has caused an increase in the overall resistance to antibiotics both in animals and human beings. It now takes a larger dosage of antibiotics to produce the same effect as a smaller dosage administered 20 years ago. This growing resistance is passed on to the succeeding generations, and thus becomes a self perpetuating cycle.

Secondly, and most importantly, chickens do not need antibiotics to grow and be healthy. We want our chickens to develop their own resistance to disease by raising them in a natural environment using better methods of poultry husbandry.

We at Petaluma Poultry, where we can control all aspects of poultry husbandry, feel that we are well suited to raise chickens without the use of antibiotics.

By more rigidly watching every aspect of our breeding stock, vaccination programs, ranch clean up and sanitation programs, as well as reducing stocking density (fewer chickens per square feet of living space), minimal stress, and having a nutritionally well-balanced feeding program, we are able to raise high quality chickens without the use of antibiotics.

Since antibiotics are not used, how can I be sure ROSIE is healthy and free of harmful bacteria?

Chickens do not need antibiotics to grow and be healthy. The chickens at Petaluma Poultry are raised without the use of antibiotics and raised with excellent poultry husbandry practices. Chickens are grown in spacious housing with plenty of natural sunlight and fresh air and have sufficient room to move about the entire house. They are given also given outdoor access which helps contribute to a stress-free living environment.

What types of feed are chickens fed and what is a vegetable diet?

We strongly believe that the flavor of the chickens comes from the feed that they eat.

All ROCKY chickens are fed the same feed made from high quality, nutritionally balanced feed ingredients. The feed is composed of approximately 70% corn and corn gluten meal and 15-18% soybean meal, with the balance of the diet made up of salt, vitamins, and minerals. The diet is called a vegetable diet because the protein and energy sources; corn and soybean meal, are all vegetable in origin. NO animal by-products or animal fat are used in the ROCKY chicken feed.

Why do some chickens have yellow colored skin and some have white skin?

The yellow pigmentation in the skin of chickens is derived from xanthophyll, which naturally occurs in yellow corn. Chickens fed a high level of corn and corn gluten meal will have a naturally yellow colored skin. Chickens fed grains such as wheat, oats or barley that do not contain xanthophyll will not have yellow skin.

We at Petaluma Poultry spend extra money feeding our ROCKY chickens corn and corn gluten meal to get the yellow color of which we are so proud.

What does free range mean? What is the difference between free range chickens and conventional chickens?

Petaluma’s birds get approximately one square foot per bird, about 25% more space per bird than those raised in conventional poultry operations. Depending upon the farm, the pens outside are 50% to 100% of the size of the inside houses.

Beginning at approximately four weeks of age, when the birds are fully feathered and able to withstand both exposure to the sun and cooler outside temperatures, the birds are allowed to roam outside of the house beginning about mid-morning, and are then ushered back inside the house around 5 pm. They are locked inside the house at night to protect them from predators. There are multiple outside access doors on the sides of the house for the chickens to use the outdoor pen during the day.

Who raises ROCKY Chickens and how are they raised?

ROCKY Chickens are raised on various local ranches throughout Sonoma and Marin Counties.

They are raised on a soft bed of rice hulls, approximately 6 to 8 inches thick. All of our chickens are given approximately one square foot per bird in which to roam freely in the poultry house, and the outdoor pen space is 50% to 100% the size of the inside houses. This represents up to double the growing space given conventional chickens.

What are the key differences between ROCKY Chickens and conventionally grown chickens?

We strongly feel that the flavor of chicken comes from the feed that it eats. ROCKY Chickens have old fashioned chicken flavor because they eat a high quality, flavor-enhancing corn and soy diet. ROCKY Chickens are never fed any animal by-products or animal fat. Also, ROCKY the Range Chicken is grown for a longer period (9 to 10 weeks ) to gain flavor and size. Conventional chickens are typically grown for 7 weeks and they are fed animal fat and animal by-products, resulting in diminished chicken flavor.

ROCKY Chickens are never fed antibiotics during their entire life. Conventional chickens are fed antibiotics to enhance growth and treat diseases when they occur.

ROCKY Chickens are humanely raised in a stress-free environment in spacious, uncrowded houses with extra floor space to grow. ROCKY The Range Chicken is allowed to go outdoors to forage in an outdoor pen. Conventional chickens are grown under more crowded conditions. In most instances, they are given one half the growing house space when compared to ROCKY the Range Chickens and are not allowed outdoor access.

ROCKY Chickens are grown, processed and distributed by one integrated company. Our company has complete control from hatching egg through store delivery. If ROCKY Chicken does get sick, antibiotics are used and the entire flock is removed from the ROCKY Chicken program and sold as conventional chickens.

What is the difference between ROCKY the Range Chicken and ROCKY JUNIOR?

ROCKY the Range Chicken is larger in size -- a roaster size bird. It is 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 lbs -- ready to cook. The larger size is due to the fact that ROCKY the Range Chicken has 2 to 3 weeks more growing time and is approximately 9 to 10 weeks old when processed. This additional growing time contributes to the old fashioned flavor found in ROCKY the Range Chickens. ROCKY the Range Chicken is a true range chicken; it has an outdoor pen to roam in and forage freely, in addition to their enclosed poultry house.

ROCKY JUNIOR is a smaller-size, fryer-broiler size bird. It is 3 to 4 lbs and approximately 7 weeks old when processed. ROCKY JUNIOR is allowed to roam freely in a spacious house but is not allowed to go outdoors. While both ROCKY the Range Chicken and ROCKY JUNIOR are antibiotic free and fed the same vegetarian diet, ROCKY JUNIOR was developed after ROCKY the Range Chicken to provide the choice of a smaller bird to the consumer.

How is ROSIE raised? How does ROSIE get her old-fashioned chicken flavor?

ROSIE received the first United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) certified organic label for chickens. She is the latest introduction from Petaluma Poultry, a pioneer producer of healthy chicken products with old-fashioned chicken flavor.

ROSIE eats only 100% certified organic corn and soybean flakes which are grown on soil free of pesticides and commercial fertilizers for a period of at least three years. This vegetarian diet contains no antibiotics, animal fat or animal by-products. She is a true free range chicken that is allowed to roam and forage outdoors within a fenced pen. ROSIE is raised according to an organic growing protocol independently verified and certified by Oregon Tilth, a third party certifier.

Because chickens taste like the feed they eat, ROSIE's old fashioned chicken flavor will come from her organic vegetarian diet of corn and soybean flakes. ROSIE is never fed any animal fat or animal by-products so you get a true chicken flavor and taste in every ROSIE chicken you purchase.

Is ROSIE a Free-Range Chicken?

Yes, ROSIE is raised as a true free range chicken that is allowed to roam and forage outdoors within a fenced pen.

How do you cook a ROCKY or a ROSIE Chicken?

ROCKY or ROSIE chicken can be baked, roasted or barbecued. Length of cooking time will depend on size of bird and temperature of baking oven or temperature of barbecue.

It should normally take 75 to 90 minutes at 350 to 375 degrees temperature to bake or roast a whole body 5 pound ROCKY Range Chicken. It should take 60 minutes for a 3 1/2 pound ROCKY JUNIOR or ROSIE Chicken. (Recipes available).

COOKING SAFETY TIPS

POULTRY COOKING TEMPERATURES: Use a meat thermometer inserted in the thick part of the thigh next to the body to test "doneness".

Product Temperature

Ground Poultry 180 degrees F
Whole Chicken 165 degrees F
Chicken Breasts 180 degrees F to 185 degrees F
Chicken Thighs 170 degrees F

Cook poultry thoroughly at the above temperatures.
Keep hot foods hot! 165 degrees F or above for cooking, 140 F degrees to 165 degrees F for holding.
Don't leave cooked or uncooked poultry at room temperature
Completing the cooking process thoroughly all at once is best.

Reheat leftovers to 165 degrees F. Cover well to maintain moisture.

ABOUT NATURAL AND ORGANICS:

ROCKY:

ROSIE:

COOKING INSTRUCTIONS: