so what does "cage free" REALLY mean anyhow?

[NYREDS]

The problem with many such claims is they are not defined by regulation and oversight.
Cage free-free range-organic: all are little more than words on a label unless you are actually in a position to view the source.
Near wher I live there's a small animal/poultry slaughterhouse that markets "fresh" poultry in a major city. Did you know that you can thaw frozen poultry once and market it as "fresh"? They buy frozen poultry, including some imported from China, thaw it and sell it. They also claim at least some is "free range". Prove it's not since there is no legal definition. You & I may agree on what free range means but the is no defining regulation as far as I know.

 

[kaylakala]

This makes me very glad I got chickens.

 

[Flyman39]

I think were right momma9994.

 

[greyfields]

Quote:
This isn't entirely true and maybe you're a little too cynical. All label claims are investigated by the USDA when you get labeling approval. There is a working definition in place for "cage free" which must be met in order to use it on your labeling. There is no law what says what "cage free" means, except that you cannot use it on labeling unless you meet the USDA's current definition (which do change based on public feeback).

"Free Range" does require that animals have access to outside, even if they elect not to use it. There are working rules in place regarding the size and number of popholes made available to them to use it on labeling.

Under Organic rules, the free range component is expanded.

The Washington State Department of Agriculture has the Green Book which simplifies and epxlains all the marketing terms, how they are used and how they must be represented on labeling. It's a great summary and saves you from having to serach the entire USDA website:

http://agr.wa.gov/Marketing/SmallFarm/greenbook.htm


In summary, I'd buy a cage free egg over a standard egg anyday. Even though they aren't in cages, there are nest boxes. They're not collecting eggs off the floor as you would imagine seeing in a broiler house.

 

[Colored Egg Farmer]

ive never heard of that except in regular eggs. I'm never got a label inspected. The only thing i would probably be checked for is the quality and all the regular stuff the USDA (Food Police) will check for.

 

[greyfields]

USDA does not inpect egg production unless you produce over #### eggs per year (I forget the number). Up until that point the individual states inspect eggs. Your quality is only checked if you are sizing or grading eggs (e.g. Large Eggs, Grade AA). If you make no such label claims then they only inspect your cleaning facilities and fridge temperatures, at least in my state.

ALL Labeling, though, is inspected through the USDA. I'm getting our labeling approved at the moment, even though the USDA does not inspect our eggs or poultry (our beef, pork, lamb, goat, etc. is USDA inspected though).

 

[Colored Egg Farmer]

WellMy famly farm consists of 60,000 chickens. I think that is enough to get there attentions. When my chickens start laying there eggs my label won't be checked. But i probably have the usda come and check out our processing facilities and make sure our coolers are at the right tempatures.

Its probably becasue of my state.

 

[FutureChickenMan]

Quote:
I seem to remember it's the number of hens you have not necessarily the number of eggs. Maybe I'm confused, not sure. I'm in the middle of getting my egg handlers lic right now. The last part I need to sell, well laying hens would help too..

The regulations also depend on where you plan to sell. If you're selling the eggs on the property they were laid, there's pretty much no rules you must adhere to. But, if you're going to sell as wholesale, farmers market, etc then there's a different set of rules.

here it is..

http://agr.wa.gov/FoodAnimal/Eggs/Licensing.htm

 

[mommy9994]

Commercial farms in general are never going to be the idealic non-crowded flock free ranging on green pastures. With such a wide demand for chicken products we can only improve the conditions, I do not believe that they'll ever be "great" but they could definately be better.

I completely understand that, and agree. I was just wondering what exactly the label meant.

There are a lot of people that look at a label that says "cage free" or "free range" and think that those chickens live like mine do when I say that they are "cage free" and "free range"​

 

[FutureChickenMan]

It doesn't mean what people think it means.