Raised on Pasture
At Greenacres, we raise our turkeys with care, commitment, and a focus on sustainability. Our Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys are nurtured from the moment they arrive as day-old poults to the day they are ready for your Thanksgiving table. Each bird is raised in a way that prioritizes their health, natural behaviors, and the environment, ensuring a better life for the turkeys and a better product for your family. By combining humane practices, generative agriculture, and attention to every detail, we deliver turkeys that are not only delicious but also a reflection of our dedication to responsible farming.
Turkey available seasonally
Check our product availability to see what we currently have in stock.
The Greenacres Difference
- Outdoors as early as possible, protected from predators
- Moved often to fresh grass
- No unnecessary antibiotics
- Low stress handling
- Staff who love our animals
- Butchers chosen with animal welfare in mind
- Turkeys rotated quickly through pasture
- Manure fertilizes and improves our soil, providing nutrients to the grass
- Healthy soil sequesters carbon, holds rainwater
- Raised on a diverse diet, including fresh forages and grains, contributing to a deep, savory flavor
- Raised with plenty of space to roam, which supports natural behavior and enhances muscle development
- A slower growth rate allows for richer, more flavorful meat
- The natural environment and diet result in tender meat with complex flavors
Versus Commercially Raised Turkey
- Confined in huge, overcrowded buildings
- Commonly administered regular antibiotics to aid weight gain
- Commonly under stress
- Large amounts of waste concentrated in small areas
- Confinement barns compact soil and prevent water absorption
- Pollution of soil and waterways
- Focuses on mass-producing birds for consistency and efficiency
- Typically raised in confined spaces with limited access to natural food sources
- Rapid growth cycle and confinement often result in a less rich and less tender flavor profile.
The Greenacres Difference
- Outdoor as early as possible, protected from predators
- Moved often to fresh grass
- No unnecessary antibiotics
- Low stress handling
- Staff who love our animals
- Butchers chosen with animal welfare in mind
Versus Commercially Raised Turkey
- Confined in huge, overcrowded buildings
- Commonly administered regular antibiotics to aid weight gain
- Commonly under stress
- Turkeys rotated quickly through pasture
- Manure fertilizes and improves our soil, providing nutrients for the grasses
- Healthy soil sequesters carbon, holds rainwater
Versus Commercially Raised Turkey
- Large amounts of waste concentrated in small areas
- Confinement barns compact soil and prevent water absorption
- Higher risk of soil and waterway pollution
- Raised on a diverse diet, including fresh forages and grains, contributing to a deep, savory flavor
- Raised with plenty of space to roam, which supports natural behavior and enhances muscle development
- A slower growth rate allows for richer, more flavorful meat
- The natural environment and diet result in tender meat with complex flavors
Versus Commercially Raised Turkey
- Focuses on mass-producing birds for consistency and efficiency
- Typically raised in confined spaces with limited access to natural food sources
- Rapid growth cycle and confinement often result in a less rich and less tender flavor profile
A Better Life for the Birds and the Land
Most turkeys in the U.S. spend their lives confined in crowded indoor facilities, deprived of natural light, fresh air, and the ability to roam freely. These conditions often lead to stress, the need for antibiotics, and concentrated waste that harms the environment. At Greenacres, our turkeys live a completely different life.
When our Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys arrive as day-old poults, they are housed in a warm brooder, where they are protected and kept at a comfortable temperature until they can regulate their body heat. After 4–5 weeks, the growing turkeys move outdoors to experience fresh air and sunlight. Initially, they are housed in protective poultry tractors, which safeguard them from predators while allowing them to graze on fresh pasture. Each day, the tractors are moved to a new area, ensuring the birds have access to nutrient-rich forage and that their manure fertilizes the soil, promoting healthier, greener pastures.
As the turkeys grow larger and more robust, they graduate to spacious fenced paddocks where they can roam freely. To keep them safe from predators, our bulls are stationed nearby to deter coyotes, and custom-designed roosting houses are provided to accommodate the turkeys’ natural instinct to perch off the ground. Their diet includes clover, grasses, insects, and a locally sourced, non-GMO feed that ensures they receive all the nutrients they need for healthy growth. This natural, active lifestyle not only benefits the birds but also contributes to healthier soils and a thriving ecosystem.
Why Pasture-Raised Matters
Our approach to raising turkeys isn’t just about ensuring their welfare—it’s about creating a healthier, more sustainable food system. Our rotational grazing practices regenerate the land, improve soil fertility, and reduce the environmental impact of farming. By rotating pastures each year, we allow fields to rest and recover, avoiding overuse and promoting biodiversity.
The turkeys themselves are healthier and happier thanks to their active lifestyle and varied diet, which results in meat that is richer in flavor and higher in essential nutrients like omega-3s. Unlike industrial turkeys bred solely for efficiency, our Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys retain their heritage traits, including bronze feathers and a naturally robust health profile. Occasionally, you might notice small feather remnants on your turkey—a mark of their heritage and a reminder of the care taken to raise them properly.
Before Thanksgiving, our staff carefully transports the turkeys to a trusted poultry processor that meets Certified Humane standards, ensuring they are treated with respect and care until the very end. The result is a turkey that stands apart: a centerpiece for your holiday table that reflects not only our commitment to quality but also our dedication to preserving the land and the traditions of responsible farming.