Broiler chickens reared on factory farms typically live in large sheds that can house 20,000 - 30,000 birds. These conditions are tightly controlled by computers that manage heating, ventilation, as well as the distribution of food and water. However, the sanitation of these sheds leaves much to be desired as cleaning only occurs at the end of each growth cycle. This leaves the chickens in environments characterized by feces-laden floors and ammonia-saturated air.
Such congested and unsanitary conditions make for easy transmission of diseases, and overuse of antibiotics is a common solution within the industry. Experts warn that this excessive antibiotic use is leading to increased human resistance to these antibiotics which are used to combat diseases in chickens.
In factory farms, chickens are confined to spaces no larger than a sheet of paper for their entire lives. The comparison is stark when one realizes that a roasted chicken enjoys more space in the oven than it did when alive in a factory farm. As expected, such stressful conditions result in substandard meat and egg production. The resultant meat is often fatty and tough, while the eggs are small and thin shelled.
Factory chicken farms, often referred to as industrial poultry farms, are examples of intensive animal agriculture that cause several environmental issues. These environmental problems include:
However, Crop Circle Chicken Farms ® presents an alternative to such factory-reared, genetically modified chickens that are force-fed to mature quickly, causing their organs to struggle to keep up with their rapid weight gain.
At Crop Circle Chicken Farms, chickens are allowed to roam freely within a double spiral sanctuary. Within this haven, a thousand chickens have the freedom to forage for their sustenance. Hens lay their eggs in elevated coops that are strategically aligned outside the perimeter of the spiraled enclosure. As a result, both the meat and eggs produced are of superior quality in terms of appearance, quality, and taste.
Chickens are initially raised in both halves of the double spiral during the first season. As they move around, they naturally fertilize the ground, preparing it for the cultivation of vegetable crops. In the following year, one of the spirals is planted with climbing vegetables like peas and beans. Vine crops like squash and watermelon are also grown, providing a rich harvest and feed for the next generation of chickens after the plants are harvested. This pattern continues in the subsequent years, with the spirals alternating between chicken and vegetable cultivation. This creates a sustainable, natural food production system as chickens are rotated from one spiral pen to another.
In essence, co-cultivating chickens and vegetables creates a sustainable and efficient system that mutually benefits both flora and fauna. It offers a viable way to reduce waste, improve soil health, and boost productivity on a chicken farm.
The Crop Circle Chicken Farm spans approximately two acres, featuring two adjacent spiral pens. The entire farm, measuring 400 x 200 feet, houses 50 chicken coops per pen. Each coop includes two elevated beds on opposing sides and is open towards the pen's interior, providing chickens with bed access. A door located on the pen's exterior side facilitates access to each pen. The farm design also includes a drop tray on each side of the coop, which collects the eggs outside the pen.
Each pen can house up to a thousand chickens and produce up to 250,000 eggs in the first year, assuming the hens’ lay eggs throughout the year. Depending on the crops planted, an average of thirty thousand pounds of vegetables can be harvested per side each year. This innovative approach to chicken farming offers a sustainable alternative to traditional methods, underscoring the superiority of free-range, naturally fed chickens in terms of both animal welfare and product quality.
