Home Farming Practices
At ChickenTray, we believe that how chickens are raised is just as important as the breeds themselves. Our farming practices are rooted in centuries-old Indian traditions that prioritize the well-being of the birds, environmental sustainability, and the production of exceptionally flavorful meat.
Unlike industrial farming operations that focus solely on maximum output, our partner farmers follow methods that emphasize quality over quantity. These time-honored practices have been refined over generations to create a harmonious balance between nature, animals, and human needs.
Our chickens are raised in traditional free-range systems where they have ample space to roam, forage, and express natural behaviors. This freedom of movement results in healthier birds with leaner, more flavorful meat compared to confined poultry.
Each bird has access to at least 4 square meters of outdoor space, allowing them to scratch for insects, peck at vegetation, and dust bathe - all essential behaviors for chicken well-being that industrial farms typically deny.
Our birds receive a diet that blends traditional feed components with natural foraging. The base feed consists of locally sourced grains, millets, and pulses, supplemented with traditional ingredients like turmeric, neem, and various indigenous herbs.
This natural diet, free from artificial growth promoters, antibiotics, and synthetic additives, develops the distinctive flavor profile that makes Tray Chicken a culinary treasure of Indian cuisine.
Unlike commercial broilers that reach market weight in just 5-6 weeks, our chickens grow at their natural pace, taking 4-6 months to fully mature. This slow growth allows for proper muscle development, bone formation, and fat distribution.
The extended growth period results in meat with superior texture, richer flavor, and higher nutritional value - qualities that are impossible to achieve with rapidly grown commercial breeds.
Our farmers rely primarily on traditional Indian veterinary practices passed down through generations. Preventative care includes herbal supplements known for their immune-boosting properties, such as turmeric, holy basil (tulsi), and neem.
These natural remedies, combined with proper living conditions, result in healthier birds that rarely require medical intervention, allowing us to avoid the routine antibiotics common in industrial farming.
India's diverse geography and climate have led to the development of region-specific poultry farming practices. At ChickenTray, we preserve and promote these regional variations, ensuring that each chicken is raised according to methods best suited to its breed and environment.
In the foothills of the Himalayas, our partner farmers utilize the rich diversity of highland vegetation to supplement their chickens' diets. Birds are raised in specially designed enclosures that protect them from the cold while allowing ample space for movement. Their diet includes pine nuts, local berries, and indigenous herbs that grow abundantly in the region, contributing to the distinctive flavor of highland-raised chicken.
Along India's extensive coastline, traditional farmers practice a unique integrated system that combines poultry with fish farming. Chickens are housed above fish ponds, with their droppings naturally fertilizing the water, promoting algae growth that feeds the fish. In return, birds feed on insects attracted to the ponds, creating a sustainable ecosystem. This method, practiced for centuries in Kerala and West Bengal, exemplifies the ingenious sustainability of traditional Indian farming.
In central India, communities living near forest edges have developed a specialized method of raising chickens that mimics the birds' natural forest habitat. Enclosures are built using local materials and designed to create multi-layered environments with perches at various heights. Chickens are allowed controlled access to forest edges where they can forage for insects, seeds, and fallen fruit, supplementing their diet with the rich biodiversity of India's forest ecosystems.
The most widespread traditional method across rural India is the backyard system, where chickens are raised in small flocks of 10-15 birds per household. During the day, birds roam freely around the village, feeding on kitchen scraps, insects, and vegetation. At night, they return to simple coops made from locally available materials. This community-based approach ensures that birds benefit from diverse feeding sources while maintaining close human supervision.
Traditional Indian poultry farming is inherently sustainable, with practices that have remained in harmony with nature for centuries. Our partner farmers maintain these eco-friendly approaches while incorporating modern knowledge where beneficial:
Chicken manure is composted using traditional methods and used to fertilize crops, creating a closed-loop system that eliminates waste while improving soil fertility.
Traditional rainwater harvesting systems collect monsoon rainfall for use during dry periods, while carefully designed drainage prevents soil erosion and water contamination.
Many of our partner farms utilize solar power for their minimal electricity needs, while biogas units convert chicken waste into cooking fuel for farm households.
Traditional farming practices maintain diverse plant life around poultry areas, creating habitat for beneficial insects and birds that help control pests naturally.
While traditional farming methods form the foundation of our approach, we recognize the importance of modern quality standards. ChickenTray has developed a unique certification program that bridges traditional wisdom with contemporary safety requirements:
Our certification team, which includes elders with deep knowledge of traditional practices, verifies that farms maintain authentic methods specific to their region and breed.
Regular laboratory testing ensures that our products meet all contemporary safety standards, with checks for contaminants, pathogens, and nutritional composition.
We regularly organize knowledge-sharing sessions where farmers can exchange traditional practices and learn about appropriate modern techniques that enhance sustainability and welfare.
Only chickens raised according to our comprehensive guidelines receive our certification, ensuring that customers receive authentic, traditionally raised poultry of the highest quality.