Free Roaming, Cage Free..... what exactly would that mean?

[DENALI]

They didnt say free range but stated they were free roaming and cage free eggs. I would guess that maybe they are kept in larger runs of some sort? Something between caged and free ranging?

 

[Katy]

To me free roaming and free range would be the same thing.

 

[hcammack]

I think free roaming means that they are in some type of of large building. It probably has no type of signifigance and really doesn't legally mean anything.

Henry

 

[DENALI]

So technically speaking what would i call the eggs we are getting when we go to sell some? I keep the chickens (13 RIR's) in the run (10x30) and coop at night (10x10) currently but i am slowly working up my nerve to turn them loose in my 100x150 fended yard for part of the day. I just really hate to lose one if they fly over the fence (5 foot) or something. Although they dont every make any attempts to try to fly where they are now so it would probably be ok and its been 2 weeks today so i figure they know where home is by now.

 

[Wolf-Kim]

From my understanding, and I may well be wrong, free ranging 'technically' means no cages and access to the outdoors. A coop and a run.

But the common understanding is that the birds are 'let out' to roam around.

Cagefree probably means that they are in a poultry house(like for meat birds and turkeys).

Many private breeders and keepers use the term 'free range' and to them it means they let their birds out of the coop and run and allow them to roam around at will.

All the terms have different definitions and ideas and meanings, depending on who is using it and how.

If your buying from a local seller(farmer, backyard keeper) the best thing would be to ask them exactly what they do.

-Kim

 

[Katy]

Just say they're farm fresh, cage free, ungraded eggs.

 

[tvtaber]

That means they are not in tiny cages, but rather can roam the poultry house. It is slightly more humane but probably does not affect the nutrition, meaning you still get an inferior egg. A quick Google of the topic turned up this quote: "It is possible also that under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, a case could be made that birds are being kept in a way significantly different from what people expect. People expect "free range" to signify birds who spend much or most of their day outdoors with ample space, exercise, sunlight, social life, and at least some sustainable vegetation. However, U.S. producers generally mean that the birds are uncaged and confined indoors on the floor of a building with nest boxes along the walls. "

Here is the link to the full article, though there are many others... http://www.all-creatures.org/articles/egg-freerange.html

Vicki

 

[OHChick]

i would not be too nervous about them flying over your fence. i have 26 chickens, they are free range/free roaming, whatever. i have a 4 board fence around the first 2-3 acres of my property, so just horse fence. its open, they could hop up or over, but they don't. i do have a strand of electric around the bottom to keep dogs and the like out.

i have to admit, when they range further than i would like i get nervous but they all come running when i go out for a visit and they know where home is, so they should be fine.

 

[newchickmom]

I use the terms "Farm Fresh, Cage Free, Pastured" and mine are in a hen house with access to a nice size outdoor run.

 

[thornberryvillage]

"Free range", like "organic", has lost all real meaning as it is a govt regulated term. If you meet certain MINIMAL standards AND pay a fee to allow you to use the term "free range", that is what you would call the eggs...but it would really have no meaning. You'd be surprised at how crappy you can keep your chickens and still use the free range label as long as you pay those fees...

I use the term "naturally raised"...I don't break the law, but it lets folks know that the chickens meet the ORIGINAL meaning of :free range".

Bob