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That is actually true. The reason for this is not only to protect the health of the breeding birds; but also because some diseases are transmitted vertically, into the egg. One problem with free range that isn't mentioned is that it not only increases the risk of parasites, but it increases the risk of salmonella because of what the chickens find to eat. That said, mine get to roam the garden and repeatedly discover that they really don't like to eat snails, which can be both a disease vector and a source of parasites.
That is actually true. The reason for this is not only to protect the health of the breeding birds; but also because some diseases are transmitted vertically, into the egg. One problem with free range that isn't mentioned is that it not only increases the risk of parasites, but it increases the risk of salmonella because of what the chickens find to eat. That said, mine get to roam the garden and repeatedly discover that they really don't like to eat snails, which can be both a disease vector and a source of parasites.