"Free Range Chickens" (organic, buying, difference, Colorado)

[Beenhere4ever]

According to Consumer Reports:

"One of the most misleading labels is not on processed food. It's on chicken. To earn the "free range" label, producers can give chickens access to open air for as little as 5 minutes a day and still meet the requirement."

Chicken Safety: Consumer Reports Investigates

[OpenD]

This does not seem like an appropriate topic for the Green Living forum.

Maybe Great Debates.

[Beenhere4ever]

Originally Posted by OpenD

This does not seem like an appropriate topic for the Green Living forum.

Maybe Great Debates.

What? Free range chickens aren't part of "green living"? On what planet?

[Teckeeee]

Originally Posted by Beenhere4ever

What? Free range chickens aren't part of "green living"? On what planet?

They are about as valuable as cage free eggs.

[Beenhere4ever]

Originally Posted by Colorado xxxxx

They are about as valuable as cage free eggs.

Doesn't really answer any question.

[Teckeeee]

Originally Posted by Beenhere4ever

Doesn't really answer any question.

Ok serious answer I love CR and think most of organic, free range, cage free is overpriced hype marketed for higher profit margins.

[SFit]

The key is to stop buying based on labels and start researching the source of your foods online. We buy our eggs from a local shop that gets them from a farm nearby. The farm has information available about their farm and its practices. There are third party groups they are affiliated with that verify their claims about the square feet per chicken and conditions.
The biggest difference we've noticed is the eggs that come from the farm. You have to hit the shell much harder to crack it open, the sign of a healthy unstressed chicken laying it. Also, the texture and taste are much different than factory farm eggs.

How much an improvement the eggs are for health purposes I am not sure. But supporting a local farm that is open about their farming practices is worth the extra money to me. I want to see their business do well and paying a little more for a local family farm is worth the investment in our area to me.

[Vergofa]

Keep your own!

[smartygurl]

Vergofa, your chickens look very healthy.

[shadowwalker]

We open the door to the chicken house when the first one of us gets home and they have two acres to run on. We just have to keep the occasional roaming dog/coyote/fox off of them and we do.