Frequently Asked Questions
About Steadfast Farms

Not always, but USDA inspection allows farms to access the widest range of markets.

Poultry processed at a USDA-inspected facility can be sold to restaurants, grocery stores, wholesalers, and customers across state lines because the processing meets federal food safety standards. USDA inspection can also allow poultry products to enter interstate commerce and international export markets, depending on the processor and regulatory requirements.

In Connecticut, farms may also process poultry under the Connecticut Small Poultry Processor License, which allows farms to slaughter and process up to 20,000 birds per year raised on their own farm. Poultry processed under this program may be sold within Connecticut, but it cannot be sold across state lines. Facilities operating under this license must meet construction and sanitation standards similar to USDA facilities and must be registered with both the Connecticut Department of Agriculture and the USDA.

A smaller exemption also exists for farms processing up to 1,000 birds per year. Under this exemption:

• Birds must be sold live to the customer before slaughter
• Poultry must be sold as whole birds only
• Strict labeling requirements apply, including labeling with the customer’s name
• Birds must be sold directly from the farm property in “arm’s-length” transactions
• If a customer does not pick up their bird, it cannot be resold to another customer

Because of these requirements, poultry processed under the 1,000-bird exemption cannot be broadly marketed or distributed through restaurants, retail stores, wholesalers, or other commercial markets.

Farmers outside of Connecticut should check with their state Department of Agriculture for the specific poultry processing exemptions and sales restrictions that apply in their state.

Because USDA inspection allows poultry to be sold through restaurants, retail stores, wholesale markets, interstate commerce, and export markets, many farms choose to use a USDA-inspected processor such as Steadfast Farms when they want to expand their market opportunities.

Steadfast Farms operates Connecticut’s only USDA-inspected poultry slaughter and processing facility and serves farmers across New England and the Northeast.

Steadfast Farms operates Connecticut’s only USDA-inspected poultry slaughter and processing facility and serves farms across the Northeast. USDA inspection allows poultry processed at our facility to be legally sold across state lines and into wholesale markets.

Yes. Farmers of any size and homesteaders can schedule processing dates and bring birds to our facility for USDA-inspected slaughter and processing.

Processing dates should be scheduled well in advance, particularly during peak growing seasons when demand for USDA processing increases. A general rule of thumb is when you order chicks you schedule slaughter.

We process chicken, turkey, and duck. Geese coming later in 2026.

Yes. Farms of many sizes use USDA-inspected processors to legally sell poultry through retail, wholesale, and restaurant markets.

Processing can include whole birds, cuts, ground, sausage, and vacuum-sealed packaging depending on the farmer’s needs.

Larger Birds like Turkey are sealed in heat shrink bags.

Wholesale bulk case packaging is available as well.

Yes. Our facility is certified to slaughter and  process organic poultry under USDA Organic standards.

Yes. USDA inspection allows poultry products to be sold across state lines and into wholesale markets. It can also be exported worldwide.

Farmers typically want a clear understanding of processing costs before scheduling slaughter dates. Pricing depends on species, processing options, and packaging requirements. Current processing pricing can be found on our Slaughter & Processing Pricing Guide page.

Minimum batch sizes may vary depending on species and scheduling availability. Contact our team for current requirements when booking processing dates.

There is lots of information per species on our Slaughter and Processing information page.

Birds should be transported in well-ventilated poultry crates that prevent overcrowding and protect birds from heat stress during transit. Farmers should follow proper animal welfare practices when transporting birds to any USDA-inspected facility.

There is lots of information per species on our Slaughter and Processing information page.

Processing age depends on species and breed. Many broiler chickens are processed between 6–10 weeks, while turkeys and other poultry are typically raised longer.

Steadfast Farms raises pasture-raised poultry and works with wholesale buyers including restaurants and retailers seeking high-quality farm-raised poultry.

Yes. Many restaurants choose to source poultry directly from farms to access higher-quality products and build relationships with regional producers.

AS long as their meat and poultry was slaughtered and processed under USDA inspection.

Yes. Many restaurants choose to source poultry directly from regional farms to access higher-quality products and build relationships with local producers.

AS long as their meat and poultry was slaughtered and processed under USDA inspection.

Common certifications include:

• USDA Organic

• Animal Welfare Approved

• USDA inspection for food safety

Steadfast Farms holds certifications for organic poultry processing and humane animal handling.

Most chicken served in restaurants or sold in grocery stores comes from large poultry distributors that source birds from large industrial poultry systems. These systems typically raise birds indoors in high-density housing with limited outdoor access.

Farm-raised poultry comes from smaller farms where production practices are more transparent and often prioritise animal welfare, outdoor access, and slower growth.

At Steadfast Farms, our poultry is:

• Pasture-raised with daily outdoor access

• Raised without antibiotics or added hormones

• Humanely raised with space to roam and express natural behaviors

Steadfast Farms is also veteran-owned and operated, and our production practices emphasize responsible farming and transparency from hatch to harvest.

Yes. Many regional farms, including Steadfast Farms, supply poultry directly to restaurants, retailers, and specialty food markets.

Restaurants should confirm USDA Organic certification and USDA inspection status for the processing facility. You can see ours here.

Air-chilling cools poultry using cold air rather than water immersion. This method can help preserve natural flavor and prevent water absorption in the meat.

Air Chilling is offered at Steadfast Farms when planning and orders come in before the grow season.

At Steadfast Farms, pasture-raised poultry means birds are provided with unrestricted outdoor access throughout their growing cycle once they are able to safely live outside.

Our birds are raised in pasture environments where they can forage for insects, plants, and seeds while expressing natural behaviors such as roaming, scratching, and dust bathing.

Key elements of our pasture-raised system include:

• Outdoor access provided daily except during severe weather that could endanger the flock
• Natural sunlight, shade, and shelter available through open pasture enclosures
• Poultry are not confined indoors unless required for animal safety or transport
• Feed and water are placed outdoors to encourage natural movement and foraging

This approach supports animal welfare while allowing birds to live in a more natural environment than conventional poultry housing systems.

Organic poultry refers to production that follows standards under the USDA National Organic Program. These standards regulate feed ingredients, prohibit routine antibiotic use, and require outdoor access once birds are fully feathered.

However, in large industrial organic systems, birds may technically qualify for the organic label while still spending most of their lives indoors, particularly when they are processed at younger ages.

Pasture-raised poultry, by contrast, refers specifically to how birds are raised and housed. Pasture-raised systems prioritise outdoor living environments where birds have meaningful access to pasture and space to roam.

At Steadfast Farms, our poultry are raised on pasture with daily outdoor access, allowing birds to forage and express natural behaviors in open environments rather than being confined to indoor poultry houses.

Pasture-raised poultry systems provide birds with outdoor environments where they can move freely and express natural behaviours such as foraging, scratching, dust bathing, and roaming.

At Steadfast Farms, our birds live in open pasture environments rather than large industrial poultry houses. Access to pasture allows birds to experience natural sunlight, fresh air, and space to move.

Our processing facility is also Animal Welfare Approved, a certification that verifies high standards for humane animal care and handling.

These practices prioritize animal welfare and allow birds to live in conditions that more closely resemble natural behaviors compared to conventional poultry production systems.

Programs such as Animal Welfare Approved verify humane animal care standards.

Antibiotic-free poultry means birds are raised without antibiotics at any stage of production.

At Steadfast Farms, antibiotics are never administered to birds raised under this label.

Our production practices include:

• No in-ovo antibiotics administered at the hatchery
• No antibiotics given after hatch
• Hatchery orders placed without Marek’s vaccine when birds are raised under our antibiotic-free program

These practices ensure poultry raised on our farm meets strict standards for antibiotic-free production.

Steadfast Farms poultry can be purchased in several ways:

• Directly from the farm through our website with scheduled on-farm pickup by appointment
• Farmers markets where Steadfast Farms participates throughout the season
• Local retailers and restaurants that carry our products

You can find current locations and availability on our Find Our Products page.

Yes. Steadfast Farms offers pasture-raised poultry products directly from the farm, and at farmers markets while supplies last.

Please note on farm visits are by appointment only.

Yes. Wholesale poultry is available for restaurants, retailers, and other food service buyers.

• Chicken
• Turkey
• Quail
• Pheasant (seasonal)
• Chukar partridge (seasonal)

Pasture-raised poultry is produced on farms using slower-growth systems with outdoor access and higher animal welfare standards. These practices require more land, labour, and time compared to industrial poultry production.

Yes. Our facility operates under USDA inspection for poultry slaughter and processing. We also always have a Food Protection Manager certified by  Always Food Safe on staff.

Yes. The facility is certified to process organic poultry under USDA Organic standards.

Animal Welfare Approved certification verifies that animals are raised and handled according to high welfare standards.

Consumers should look for recognized certifications such as:

• USDA Organic

• Animal Welfare Approved

• USDA Inspection

They can also review farm websites and ask farms directly about their production practices.

Yes. Poultry processed at a USDA-inspected facility can be legally sold through retail stores, restaurants, wholesalers, and across state lines.

USDA inspection verifies that poultry slaughter and processing meet federal food safety standards. This inspection allows farmers to sell poultry through a wider range of markets compared to birds processed under on-farm exemptions, which often limit where poultry can be sold.

By using a USDA-inspected processor such as Steadfast Farms, farmers can access expanded markets including:

• Restaurants
• Grocery stores and retailers
• Wholesale distributors
• Institutional buyers
• Customers in other states

For many farms, USDA processing is an important step in scaling production and reaching new markets.

Not always, but USDA inspection allows farms to access the widest range of markets.

Poultry processed at a USDA-inspected facility can be sold to restaurants, grocery stores, wholesalers, and customers across state lines because the processing meets federal food safety standards. USDA inspection can also allow poultry products to enter interstate commerce and international export markets, depending on the processor and regulatory requirements.

In Connecticut, farms may also process poultry under the Connecticut Small Poultry Processor License, which allows farms to slaughter and process up to 20,000 birds per year raised on their own farm. Poultry processed under this program may be sold within Connecticut, but it cannot be sold across state lines. Facilities operating under this license must meet construction and sanitation standards similar to USDA facilities and must be registered with both the Connecticut Department of Agriculture and the USDA.

A smaller exemption also exists for farms processing up to 1,000 birds per year. Under this exemption:

• Birds must be sold live to the customer before slaughter
• Poultry must be sold as whole birds only
• Strict labeling requirements apply, including labeling with the customer’s name
• Birds must be sold directly from the farm property in “arm’s-length” transactions
• If a customer does not pick up their bird, it cannot be resold to another customer

Because of these requirements, poultry processed under the 1,000-bird exemption cannot be broadly marketed or distributed through restaurants, retail stores, wholesalers, or other commercial markets.

Farmers outside of Connecticut should check with their state Department of Agriculture for the specific poultry processing exemptions and sales restrictions that apply in their state.

Because USDA inspection allows poultry to be sold through restaurants, retail stores, wholesale markets, interstate commerce, and export markets, many farms choose to use a USDA-inspected processor such as Steadfast Farms when they want to expand their market opportunities.