Chicken is the most purchased protein in the United States. It is also, in its standard grocery store form, one of the most industrialised. The average commercial broiler chicken goes from hatch to slaughter in 47 days. It spends its entire life in an enclosed facility, eating a high-energy grain diet designed to maximise growth speed. The result is a bird that is technically chicken but bears very little resemblance to what chicken was before industrial farming reshaped the entire category.
Pasture-raised chicken — raised outdoors with room to move, access to sun and fresh air, and the ability to forage — grows more slowly, develops more muscle, and produces meat with a flavour and texture that is genuinely different from commodity chicken.
Winters Cattle Ranch in Rush, Colorado offers all-natural, free-range chicken direct to Colorado families. Known primarily for their fifth-generation grass-fed Black Angus beef and heritage pork operation, their chicken follows the same philosophy: raised naturally, the way the animal was meant to live, producing a product that reflects the care put into raising it.
What Pasture Raised and Free-Range Actually Mean
The terminology around chicken labelling is more confusing than it should be.
Free-range — under USDA standards, free-range poultry must have access to the outdoors. The amount of outdoor space required, and whether birds actually use it, is not specified. A commercial free-range chicken operation can technically satisfy the standard with minimal outdoor access.
Pasture-raised — not a regulated USDA term, but typically refers to chickens that spend a significant portion of their time outdoors on actual pasture, with meaningful space to forage, scratch, and exhibit natural behaviours. Pasture-raised is generally considered the higher standard.
All-natural — generally means no artificial ingredients or added colouring and minimal processing. Does not tell you anything about how the bird was raised.
At Winters Ranch, the chicken is described as all-natural and free-range — raised with access to the outdoors, sun, and fresh air. The philosophy is the same one applied to their beef and pork operations: animals that live as they are meant to live produce better food.
Why Pasture Raised Chicken Tastes Different
The flavour difference between pasture-raised chicken and grocery store chicken is most noticeable in three areas: the meat itself, the skin, and the fat.
The meat — pasture-raised chickens develop more muscle because they move more. More active muscles contain more myoglobin — the protein that carries oxygen to muscle tissue and gives meat its colour and depth of flavour. Dark meat from pasture-raised chickens is noticeably richer than grocery store dark meat.
The skin — chicken skin from a pasture-raised bird crisps differently than grocery store chicken skin. Commercial chicken skin has a higher water content due to rapid growth and processing. Pasture-raised chicken skin renders more cleanly, crisps more evenly, and tastes of something — the fat is more flavourful because the bird was eating a more varied diet.
The fat — like grass-fed beef and pasture-raised pork, chicken raised on pasture develops a different fat profile than grain-only chickens. The fat is more golden in colour, slightly softer, and more flavourful when rendered. Chicken fat from a well-raised bird is a cooking fat worth saving.
The Nutritional Difference
Pasture-raised chickens that have access to forage — grass, insects, and whatever they find in the pasture — consume a more varied diet than grain-only birds. That dietary variety translates into a different nutritional profile in the finished meat.
Research on pasture-raised chicken versus conventionally raised chicken shows higher concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D in pasture-raised birds. The vitamin D content is particularly notable — chickens synthesise vitamin D through sun exposure, the same mechanism as in humans, and pasture-raised birds with real outdoor access show significantly higher vitamin D levels than birds raised entirely indoors.
The iron content of dark meat from pasture-raised birds is also typically higher, reflecting the more developed muscle tissue from the bird's more active life.
How to Cook Pasture Raised Chicken to Get the Most From It
Pasture-raised chicken is leaner and has less water content than grocery store chicken, which means it responds differently to common cooking methods.
Roasting a whole chicken — pasture-raised whole chickens roast beautifully but benefit from basting or a compound butter under the skin. Start at high heat (425°F) for the first 20 minutes to crisp the skin, then reduce to 375°F for the remainder. A 4-pound pasture-raised chicken typically takes 60 to 75 minutes total. Let it rest for 10 minutes before carving.
Chicken breasts — the lean breast meat benefits from quick, high-heat cooking. Pound breasts to even thickness before cooking if pan-searing. Brine in saltwater for 30 minutes before cooking if you want extra insurance against dryness. Avoid cooking past 160°F internal temperature.
Thighs and legs — dark meat responds well to longer, slower cooking. Braising thighs in stock or wine at 300°F for 90 minutes produces exceptionally tender, flavourful results.
Roasting a whole bird for stock — the carcass of a pasture-raised chicken makes noticeably better stock than a commodity chicken carcass. The more developed bone structure produces a richer, more gelatinous stock. Always make stock from the carcass.
Where to Buy Pasture Raised Chicken in Colorado Near You
If you are in the Colorado Springs, Pueblo, or surrounding areas of Colorado, Winters Cattle Ranch is one of the few direct-from-ranch sources for all-natural free-range chicken available with home delivery or ranch pickup.
Winters Ranch sells whole chickens through their website at winterscattleranch.com. The chicken is available for free pickup at the ranch in Rush, Colorado, or for delivery through their Colorado drop points including Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Falcon, Peyton, Calhan, Fountain, Castle Rock, and Monument.
The chicken is available as part of the Winters Ranch product lineup alongside their beef and pork — making it practical to order chicken, ground beef, pork cuts, and bacon in a single order.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between pasture raised and free-range chicken? Free-range chicken under USDA standards simply requires that birds have some access to the outdoors. Pasture-raised chicken typically refers to birds that spend significant time on actual pasture with room to forage, scratch, and behave naturally. Winters Cattle Ranch raises all-natural free-range chicken with outdoor access in keeping with the ranch's broader philosophy of natural animal husbandry.
Why does pasture raised chicken taste different? Pasture-raised chickens develop more muscle through movement, eat a more varied diet through foraging, and grow more slowly than commercial birds. These factors produce meat with more myoglobin content — deeper colour and richer flavour — skin that crisps more cleanly, and fat with a better profile.
Is pasture raised chicken more nutritious than regular chicken? Pasture-raised chicken generally contains higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D compared to conventionally raised chicken. The vitamin D difference is significant — chickens synthesise it through sun exposure, and birds with real outdoor access show meaningfully higher levels.
Where can I buy whole chickens near me in Colorado? Winters Cattle Ranch in Rush, Colorado sells all-natural free-range whole chickens with delivery to Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Falcon, Peyton, Calhan, Fountain, Castle Rock, Monument, and surrounding areas. Order online at winterscattleranch.com or arrange free pickup at the ranch.
How do I cook a pasture raised chicken so it doesn't dry out? Pasture-raised chicken is leaner than grocery store chicken and reaches internal temperature faster. For whole roasted chicken, use compound butter under the skin and start at high heat (425°F) before reducing. For chicken breasts, brine briefly in saltwater before cooking and don't exceed 160°F internal temperature.
Can I order pasture raised chicken with a beef order from Winters Ranch? Yes. Winters Ranch sells chicken alongside their beef and pork through winterscattleranch.com. Combining orders is practical and makes it easier to hit the free shipping threshold.
Winters Cattle Ranch raises all-natural, free-range chicken on their Colorado ranch in Rush, Colorado — the same operation that has been producing fifth-generation grass-fed Black Angus beef and heritage pork since 1952.
Whole chickens are available now at winterscattleranch.com with free delivery to Colorado Springs, Pueblo, and surrounding communities, or free pickup at the ranch.
