Define “free range”

[KimbosKluckers]

Is free range strictly no boundaries or fences whatsoever? When you see “free range” chickens, eggs etc… or is there a minimum acreage? Mine have a coop and run but during the day I open the run to a fairly big yard (130’x100’ approximately). We are fencing in our 2 acres this month and they may be able to forage there, is that free range?

 

[Mrs. K]

Well there is not a definition that fits all. Some think of it as a feral chicken, living off the land. I live on a ranch is SD where pastures are measured in miles of prairie. And some people let them wander around a fenced backyard. If you want to call it free ranging, more power to you.

 

[Perris]

When you see “free range” chickens, eggs etc… or is there a minimum acreage?

there will be a legal definition where you live, for people/businesses who want to sell to the public, as part of trade description legislation.

Here, for example, there is extensive legislation on it. Here's a small extract to give you some idea of how detailed it can be:

"Free range systems: additional housing requirements​

Paragraph 17 of Schedule 1 to the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007 states:
17. Animals not kept in buildings must, where necessary and possible, be given protection from adverse weather conditions, predators and risks to their health and must, at all times, have access to a well-drained lying area.
Paragraph 7 of Schedule 2 to the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007 states:
7. If laying hens have access to open runs –
(a) there must be several popholes giving direct access to the outer area, at least 35 cm high and 40 cm wide, and extending along the entire length of the building; and in any case, a total opening of 2 m must be available per group of 1,000 hens; and
(b) the open runs must be – (i) of an area appropriate to the stocking density and to the nature of the ground, in order to prevent any contamination; and (ii) equipped with shelter from adverse weather conditions and predators and, if necessary, drinking troughs."
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/poultry-on-farm-welfare/poultry-welfare-recommendations excerpt from heading between paras 145 and 146

If you read it all carefully you'll see it permits chickens and eggs to be labelled 'free range' even though they may never even set foot outdoors. They just have to be given access to the outdoors. They don't have to use it, and what that 'outdoors' actually looks like can be very far removed from the image of green pasture or light woodland that typically figures on the advertising blurb for free range this or that.

Search your state government website for the rules where you live.

 

[Loving my girls]

Ooooh big list, I’ve always thought of it as, “not restricted to a run of any sort or size”

 

[KimbosKluckers]

there will be a legal definition where you live, for people/businesses who want to sell to the public, as part of trade description legislation.

Here, for example, there is extensive legislation on it. Here's a small extract to give you some idea of how detailed it can be:

"Free range systems: additional housing requirements​

Paragraph 17 of Schedule 1 to the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007 states:
17. Animals not kept in buildings must, where necessary and possible, be given protection from adverse weather conditions, predators and risks to their health and must, at all times, have access to a well-drained lying area.
Paragraph 7 of Schedule 2 to the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007 states:
7. If laying hens have access to open runs –
(a) there must be several popholes giving direct access to the outer area, at least 35 cm high and 40 cm wide, and extending along the entire length of the building; and in any case, a total opening of 2 m must be available per group of 1,000 hens; and
(b) the open runs must be – (i) of an area appropriate to the stocking density and to the nature of the ground, in order to prevent any contamination; and (ii) equipped with shelter from adverse weather conditions and predators and, if necessary, drinking troughs."
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/poultry-on-farm-welfare/poultry-welfare-recommendations excerpt from heading between paras 145 and 146

If you read it all carefully you'll see it permits chickens and eggs to be labelled 'free range' even though they may never even set foot outdoors. They just have to be given access to the outdoors. They don't have to use it, and what that 'outdoors' actually looks like can be very far removed from the image of green pasture or light woodland that typically figures on the advertising blurb for free range this or that.

Search your state government website for the rules where you live.

Wow what a long and detailed list. Thanks for sharing that. I also thought it meant no cages at all. Makes you think

 

[No Coop No Problem]

If you read it all carefully you'll see it permits chickens and eggs to be labelled 'free range' even though they may never even set foot outdoors.

It's the same with cows in the US. Most "pasture raised" cattle will never step one foot outside because they don't legally have to be allowed outside during "inclement weather" and the weather is always magically inclement

Ooooh big list, I’ve always thought of it as, “not restricted to a run of any sort or size”

This is a reasonable, basic definition that allows for a lot of scale and variation

 

[Loving my girls]

Thort you might find this interesting- this is France:

 

[KimbosKluckers]

Thort you might find this interesting- this is France:

Wow that seems crazy! Interesting for sure.

 

[Loving my girls]

Wow that seems crazy! Interesting for sure.

Label rouge is a government run standard which is set, controlled and monitored by, you guessed it, the government.
I won’t show you the EU standards for egg laying hens as it will give you nightmares

 

[Debbie292d]

We live in the country, so free-range to us means our silkies can come out of the coop to roam our 2.5 acres anytime the temp is above 20F, and windchill is not below zero.

We border a forest and have farmer's fields on the other three sides. We have two dogs (border collie and corgi) that keep the riff-raff out, and numerous solar motion lights. Everyone is locked up at night in a coop that is like fort knox.