Free range??

[speckledhen]

The USDA just loves to redefine terms. Dont trust them, period.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Free range means access to the outdoors (whether or not they can realistically use it, and irrespective of what *kind* of outdoors or how *much*)

Free run means indoors but cage-free, similar to how broilers are raised.

If you want to sell your eggs it seems to me that the smart and effective thing is to just DESCRIBE the situation, e.g. "they roam free in my yard for an hour or two a day" or "coop with large run, fed a variety of vegetables and other plant foods in addition to commercial layer mash" or whatever.

BTW (referring to the source the o.p. quotes) I am highly mistrustful of the motives of anyone who says their chickens are hormone-free, being as how NOBODY gives their chickens hormones not even the "worst" commercial producers. It's like selling bottled water that says "no sugar added", or apples labelled "contains no meat by-products", or something

JMO,

Pat

 

[Buster]

Quote:
This is a perfect example of why that mumbo jumbo holds no water with me and I refuse to pay more for organic. It's just a gimmick to get people to buy their stuff at a higher price. What a bunch of con artists. It says that they are fed a vegetarian diet but if they are free ranging how do they know that they haven't eaten bugs or mice? They don't so they can't guarantee that either. My birds loose in their coop have more sq ft per bird than the definition there, plus they get to roam wherever they want all day. I refuse to believe that "organic" is anything other than a well thought out scam.

 

[Buster]

Quote:
Free range means access to the outdoors (whether or not they can realistically use it, and irrespective of what *kind* of outdoors or how *much*)

Free run means indoors but cage-free, similar to how broilers are raised.

If you want to sell your eggs it seems to me that the smart and effective thing is to just DESCRIBE the situation, e.g. "they roam free in my yard for an hour or two a day" or "coop with large run, fed a variety of vegetables and other plant foods in addition to commercial layer mash" or whatever.

BTW (referring to the source the o.p. quotes) I am highly mistrustful of the motives of anyone who says their chickens are hormone-free, being as how NOBODY gives their chickens hormones not even the "worst" commercial producers. It's like selling bottled water that says "no sugar added", or apples labelled "contains no meat by-products", or something

JMO,

Pat

Yet another fine point.

 

[Wildsky]

Quote:
This is a perfect example of why that mumbo jumbo holds no water with me and I refuse to pay more for organic. It's just a gimmick to get people to buy their stuff at a higher price. What a bunch of con artists. It says that they are fed a vegetarian diet but if they are free ranging how do they know that they haven't eaten bugs or mice? They don't so they can't guarantee that either. My birds loose in their coop have more sq ft per bird than the definition there, plus they get to roam wherever they want all day. I refuse to believe that "organic" is anything other than a well thought out scam.

THe only reason I buy organic, is to get my fruits and veggies etc. with out pesticides. Sometimes I can't afford to, so its not a HUGE big deal - but I do like the organic veggies better.

 

[Buster]

Quote:
This is a perfect example of why that mumbo jumbo holds no water with me and I refuse to pay more for organic. It's just a gimmick to get people to buy their stuff at a higher price. What a bunch of con artists. It says that they are fed a vegetarian diet but if they are free ranging how do they know that they haven't eaten bugs or mice? They don't so they can't guarantee that either. My birds loose in their coop have more sq ft per bird than the definition there, plus they get to roam wherever they want all day. I refuse to believe that "organic" is anything other than a well thought out scam.

THe only reason I buy organic, is to get my fruits and veggies etc. with out pesticides. Sometimes I can't afford to, so its not a HUGE big deal - but I do like the organic veggies better.

I can see your reasoning there but can't understand the logic with the meat and eggs.

 

[Wildsky]

Quote:
Well as far as meat its tricky to find that in the supermarkets, easier to find a farmer or grow your own.
I am unhappy about buying beef when I know they've been full of antibiotics and growth hormones.

 

[Buster]

Quote:
Well as far as meat its tricky to find that in the supermarkets, easier to find a farmer or grow your own.
I am unhappy about buying beef when I know they've been full of antibiotics and growth hormones.

It's been so long since I bought beef in the store that when I eat it somewhere else I immediately know the difference. The only meat I eat anymore that comes from the store is chicken (funny I know) and I'm working on correcting that too. If it came from my backyard or another farm around here from someone I know, then I know what went into it and to me that is "organic" enough. A lot of the fruit and vegetables I eat came from gardens of family members or friends. That is "organic" enough for me. Maybe I'm just lucky that I have sources to get my food from that I can trust. I just have a hard time paying more money for something that is denoted "organic" when the definition of it is a joke to me.

 

[Wildsky]

Quote:
Well as far as meat its tricky to find that in the supermarkets, easier to find a farmer or grow your own.
I am unhappy about buying beef when I know they've been full of antibiotics and growth hormones.

It's been so long since I bought beef in the store that when I eat it somewhere else I immediately know the difference. The only meat I eat anymore that comes from the store is chicken (funny I know) and I'm working on correcting that too. If it came from my backyard or another farm around here from someone I know, then I know what went into it and to me that is "organic" enough. A lot of the fruit and vegetables I eat came from gardens of family members or friends. That is "organic" enough for me. Maybe I'm just lucky that I have sources to get my food from that I can trust. I just have a hard time paying more money for something that is denoted "organic" when the definition of it is a joke to me.

How did that pig taste?

 

[Buster]

Quote:
It's been so long since I bought beef in the store that when I eat it somewhere else I immediately know the difference. The only meat I eat anymore that comes from the store is chicken (funny I know) and I'm working on correcting that too. If it came from my backyard or another farm around here from someone I know, then I know what went into it and to me that is "organic" enough. A lot of the fruit and vegetables I eat came from gardens of family members or friends. That is "organic" enough for me. Maybe I'm just lucky that I have sources to get my food from that I can trust. I just have a hard time paying more money for something that is denoted "organic" when the definition of it is a joke to me.

How did that pig taste?

LOL Tastes great! You just reminded me I need to get some out for the party I'm having tonight.