I don't think the general public really knows but why don't you call them Yard Eggs.
Chickens for 10-20 years or more? Pull up a rockin' chair and lay some wisdom on us!
- Thread starter Beekissed
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I think, like Bee said, if they get to range as far as they normally would anyway, then "free range" is just that. I think most people would actually be pasture raising though at best.
Anytime I mention free range in one of my posts I'm meaning either one of two things. The coops in the back are not fenced. The fences were destroyed a couple of years ago in a tornado and I've never had the money to replace them, so they can free range all the way to China if they want. That is true free range. I also sometimes mean the coops in the front which open into the pasture. There the chickens can range over a couple of acres of pasture, through brush, under trees... since they go as far from the coop as the chickens in the rear coops, I still tend to call it free range even though pasture raised would be more correct.
Anytime I mention free range in one of my posts I'm meaning either one of two things. The coops in the back are not fenced. The fences were destroyed a couple of years ago in a tornado and I've never had the money to replace them, so they can free range all the way to China if they want. That is true free range. I also sometimes mean the coops in the front which open into the pasture. There the chickens can range over a couple of acres of pasture, through brush, under trees... since they go as far from the coop as the chickens in the rear coops, I still tend to call it free range even though pasture raised would be more correct.
Truth is, the "others" don't know what is what. All these terms get misused.... a LOT. Whether on purpose, or by accident or ignorance.
Heck we have people on here that incubate in their apartment in the city that call themselves breeders.
Heck we have people on here that incubate in their apartment in the city that call themselves breeders.
The USDA definition of free range:
"FREE RANGE or FREE ROAMING:
Producers must demonstrate to the Agency that the poultry has been allowed access to the outside."
So, I would call them free range. Egg buyers will usually ask for details if something is particularly important to them. That's my limited experience, anyway.
Kim (not really an OT but I do sell eggs)
"FREE RANGE or FREE ROAMING:
Producers must demonstrate to the Agency that the poultry has been allowed access to the outside."
So, I would call them free range. Egg buyers will usually ask for details if something is particularly important to them. That's my limited experience, anyway.
Kim (not really an OT but I do sell eggs)
Educated consumers want to know that your eggs didn't come from chickens that are living in a cage popping out eggs like an assembly line. They want fresh, nutritious, rich eggs. Call it free range, pasture raised or whatever fits your fancy, but the main point is letting the consumer know they are healthy birds with freedom to run and be real chickens.
The USDA definition of free range:
"FREE RANGE or FREE ROAMING:
Producers must demonstrate to the Agency that the poultry has been allowed access to the outside."
So, I would call them free range. Egg buyers will usually ask for details if something is particularly important to them. That's my limited experience, anyway.
Kim (not really an OT but I do sell eggs)
All they have to demonstrate is access to outside. I have seen how "Rocky the Range Chicken" are raised and they basically run them around the building once to met the criteria. These commercial operations are not going to let their birds roam all over the countryside.
BTW: The Rocky the Range Chickens are started on medicated feed...no one seems to know that.
Walt
Most intelligent folks can tell the difference in cage eggs and free range eggs if they ever see a deep orange yolk of a free range egg.
ETA: We are getting a nice gentle rain. been raining for over an hour now.
ETA: We are getting a nice gentle rain. been raining for over an hour now.
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Along the lines of free ranging, its time to start considering your winter pasture. Here is an article I wrote for the APA yearbook a few years back https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/554575/winter-pasture-for-poultry
Save yourself a lot of feed bill this winter. Plant some winter pasture!
Save yourself a lot of feed bill this winter. Plant some winter pasture!
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I think WE can tell the difference. To a true city person.... I was one.... they won't notice til it is pointed out to them.
What they will notice (what I noticed) is the strong flavor. At first, in fact, I wasn't sure I liked it.
If all you have been raised on is factory food, then a different flavor may or may not be pleasant.
When I was young, I was absolutely certain that mashed potatoes came from a red box above the stove.... I made them more real by adding more flakes... made em thicker
What they will notice (what I noticed) is the strong flavor. At first, in fact, I wasn't sure I liked it.
If all you have been raised on is factory food, then a different flavor may or may not be pleasant.
When I was young, I was absolutely certain that mashed potatoes came from a red box above the stove.... I made them more real by adding more flakes... made em thicker
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