How We Raise Foster Farms Poultry

What are Foster Farms chickens and turkeys fed?

Our chickens and turkeys mature naturally without growth hormones or steroids. They are fed a highly nutritious, balanced diet composed primarily of corn and soy meal, with vitamins and minerals added. Consumers can also be assured that Foster Farms does not use Roxarsone or any feed additives containing arsenic. Foster Farms poultry feed does not contain any wheat gluten, corn gluten nor any concentrated rice. Furthermore, Foster Farms does not import any protein ingredients from China for its poultry feed. All of our feed ingredients are approved for use by the FDA and USDA. Because we own and operate our feed mills, the custom diet of Foster Farms' poultry always addresses the specific needs of our particular birds, to ensure optimum health, growth and overall quality.

Animal Welfare

Foster Farms strictly follows the animal welfare guidelines set forth by the National Chicken Counsel (NCC) and the National Turkey Federation (NTF) and has been instrumental in helping to advance animal welfare in the industry and in fact collaborated with the NCC, NCCR (National Council of Chain Restaurants), and FMI (Food Manufacturer's Institute) several years ago to initiate the development of industry-wide guidelines for the housing, feeding, veterinary care, and transport of chickens and turkeys.

The company strictly adheres to these guidelines and trains all employees in them. Employees are required to abide by these policies and any inappropriate treatment would result in termination. The company regularly updates its practices and technology to reflect the industry's best known practices.

Foster Farms is audited numerous times each year by independent third party auditors at the request of retailers and food service customers to ensure that the company is meeting the industry guidelines. Foster Farms has also independently sought audit by outside professional animal specialists. The audits take place at the company's hatchery, live production, and growing facilities. These audits have consistently shown Foster Farms to adhere to the nationally recognized guidelines.

Foster Farms has designated employees at each facility to monitor practices relating to animals and report to the company's Animal Welfare Officer.

Foster Farms would like to assure consumers that its chickens are raised in large poultry barns (without cages) that allow the birds to move around. The structures are bio-secure and are designed to protect the birds from environmental extremes (such as temperature variability) while allowing fresh air to constantly circulate.

Are your chickens and turkeys raised in "cages" or are they "free range"?

Foster Farms poultry is neither "caged" nor "free-range." Our chickens and turkeys are grown in large poultry barns designed to protect the birds from environmental extremes, while allowing fresh air to constantly circulate. The interior temperature and climate is controlled, and clean water and feed are available at all times. Our barns are built with enough space for the birds to move about freely. The floors are covered with absorbent bedding materials such as rice hulls and wood shavings.

Grow-out Ranches

After the chicks hatch, they are taken to a local ranch where conditions promote natural growth. Each ranch has a "buffer zone" of empty land all around. The climate is ideal. The chicks' environment is monitored around the clock. They get a balanced diet of high-quality corn-based feed and mature naturally, without steroids or growth hormones. Our veterinarians carefully watch the flock's progress. Each flock is then tested and receives USDA certification that it meets and exceeds quality and safety standards.

Do you use antibiotics?

As part of our long-term commitment to natural poultry products, Foster Farms continues to be prudent in the use of antibiotics in the production of poultry.

Foster Farms takes strong preventative measures on the farm to ensure the excellent health and development of its chicken flocks. State-of-the-art, climate-controlled housing, diets specifically designed for the nutritional stages of the birds and development of strong immune systems, modern biosecurity practices that protect flocks from disease exposure, and research-oriented growing practices and husbandry all combine to minimize the need for treatment of flocks due to illness and disease.

In very limited instances, if a flock does become ill, and the birds’ health and well-being is at risk, prudent veterinary treatment with antibiotics does occur. In these cases, a veterinarian will choose a medication that is regulated for use in poultry and not deemed critical for use in human medicine. All labeled withdrawal times for such medications are followed, and subsequent food safety lab testing is performed, to ensure no antibiotic residue exists.

Foster Farms is committed to producing the safest, most wholesome, highest quality and delicious poultry products and it is continually refining its practices to improve the quality of its poultry. Food safety is a top priority for Foster Farms and it employs stringent quality and food safety programs, many of which exceed mandates from the USDA. Foster Farms’ food safety programs include Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) systems and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs).  The company has an excellent food safety record.