Free-Range Chicken More Disease-Prone?

[walkswithdog]

It really is a JOKE to call any of that nonsense "free range."

Free range = open the door and there's actual RANGE with grass and bugs and and and...... okay and predators, but hey, life ain't perfect.

That article and the "industry" definitions make me want to puke. Talk about missing the point.

 

[yab]

it is the same argument when concerning the majority of the foods that are considered "safe" and "more nutritional than organics"... such as GE foods, "high fructose corn syrup" and other unsafe artificial foods that our peers tell us are alright to eat... they have no moral basis, and therefore when they see chickens locked up in cages with a little door to the outside world that they won't use, they won't see the harm in it and will consider it to be a more cost effective alternative than having real free range chickens

 

[PokingMyPancreas]

A free-range bird is a healthy/happy bird...'nuff said

 

[annmarie]

Children would also be less disease-prone and free from lice, mites and predators if they were kept indoors locked in cages but I don't see anyone recommending that as a good parenting method.

 

[ScoobyRoo]

Thanks for bringing that to our attention. Like most of the posters, I disagree with the article.
BTW

from Kansas

 

[snugglepup]

Well, I guess I'm going to be in the minority and not "disagree" with the article that was posted. I think it is very interesting. I'd like to have more information, and perhaps read the actual study as it was published to see the methods and numbers. I doubt it would it any way affect the way I keep my own chickens. It will also be interesting to see how the industry uses the information.

I think there is a huge difference in comparing our smallish pet flocks to a commercial flock. We can learn from the data and perhaps apply it to help our own birdies, but its not remotely the same thing. Both the definition of "free-range" and the concentration of birds are completely different. I doubt many commercial poultry farmers have a chicken convalescing in a cat carrier in their bathroom tonight!

 

[speckledhen]

When birds freerange in a large area with various flora and fauna, it's known that they eat natural wormers and many greens and bugs that provide nutrient rich fare, in addition to their formulated feed. They get fresh air and sunshine. When you have birds in cages, or way too many in one building, you have a monoculture which is ripe for the lightning fast spread of disease. This is why factory farms with several birds in tight quarters will be the cause of disease, rather than backyard flocks which are managed with diligence. It's one reason why some of the Animal ID program propaganda is ridiculous, IMO, in placing blame of disease spread on small backyard flocks.

 

[erinm]

That is just the factyory farms misinforming the public. Free range is better. Like humans, I believe they build up thier immunities. Anyone else? You got to be exposed to build immunities. I keeo telling my sister that about the kids. My house is not super clean. I do the basics yes but I do not use antibacterial stuff, bleach, etc and my kids are rarely ill. My sister who uese every chemical known to man has sisk kids several times a year. i think it is the same for animals. ErinM

 

[Beekissed]

I agree with the majority....they are clearly not discussing true free ranging here but just the USDA "definition" of it. It would be like a backyard flock of 10 in a house and run that would suit 4 chickens, that have a bare and small run, deep fecal litter, and no good immune systems because they are fed antibiotics in their formulated feed. Yes, I could see all those things happening in a smaller model in a backyard flock....wet and dirty conditions, too small an area, compromised immune systems.

In a true free range operation, there would need to be adequate space, land, etc. for a large flock. Deep litter is fine if tended well....fresh litter spread, prevention of a litter "cap" developing over wet litter, removal of any wet litter to prevent bacteria and fungal growth, etc.

To me this sounds like propaganda spread by CAFOs because they get less for their product than do so-called "free rangers" in the supermarket. The public is gullible and are fooled by packaging and the commercial "free range" operations know it, so they invest in better packaging and have nifty little labels with healthy info on them.....all the while charging $4.95 for 6 eggs!

I wouldn't consider anything BUT free ranging or chicken tractors...and I've never had illness in my flocks nor cannibalism of any kind.

 

[yab]

Quote:
...not yet!! that day is coming