They range free. I lock them up at night and let them loose in the daytime.
I don't have layers, I just have Marans and Freedom Rangers. Oh, I do have 1 speckled sussex (a pet), and one standard cochin (good broody).
I have several hens and a couple roosters. I mostly eat the eggs, but periodically save some up to put in the incubator.
I got the originals here: http://www.freedomrangerhatchery.com/
I kept some Freedom Rangers to adulthood and I hatch their eggs. The chicks grow as fast as the original adults. They don't grow as rapidly as cornish X, but that's ok with me.