Free-Range Chickens, Backyard Chickens, Household Chickens, Coop-Raised Chickens, Organically Raised Chickens, Naturally Raised Chickens, Family Chickens. They are all basically all the same, except for a few differences (like only feeding organic feed for organic chickens).
Today while reading a fellow blogger's post who keeps her precious family chickens safe and happy in a large coop, I finally felt it was time for me to speak up.
Ok.
I've had enough of all the guilt trips some people try to lay on those who don't permit their chickens to strut freely anywhere they please.
I've listened to these people and even agreed outwardly, while inwardly I wasn't fully on the same page.
Its' time for me to hop out of my 'follow the sheep' mentality and stand up for a choice that I've made and let others know that I am happy with my decision and will proudly defend it.
That's not to say that I disapprove of anyone who does allow their chickens to free-range. That's their choice. And it's fine with me. If I had a farm that was safe for my chickens to free-range all over the place, I'd be happy to let them do that. In fact, that would be my preference. But it's not my reality.
Our chickens may not be technically 'free-range', but they have a much better life than those commercial egg-layers.
My chickens live a far better life than these Commerical Chickens.
Did you know that on large-scale commercial farms, over 125,000 egg-laying hens are housed in each warehouse-style structure? Or that inside the sheds, hens are confined to 'battery cages' (small wire or plastic confinement enclosures)?
Typically, three to eleven hens are confined to a single cage. Each bird has less than 67 square inches of space for her entire life.
This nearly-universal practice violates Section 597t of the California State Penal Code, which requires that confined animals have adequate exercise space.
Cage production prohibit hens from engaging in natural behaviors such as wing-spreading, perching, and dust bathing. As well, a portion of egg-layer's beaks are severed without the aid of anesthesia.
And I did a little research on the American Egg Board and this is what they say about 'Free-Range" chickens:
"Free-Range Eggs
True free-range eggs are those produced by hens raised outdoors or that have daily access to the outdoors.
Due to seasonal conditions, however, few hens are actually raised outdoors. Some egg farms are indoor floor operations and these are sometimes erroneously referred to as free-range operations. Due to higher production costs and lower volume per farm, free-range eggs are generally more expensive.
The nutrient content of eggs is not affected by whether hens are raised free-range or in floor or cage operations, but rather by the breed of chickens laying the eggs, and what those chickens are fed in their diet."
I've been admonished by a number of people, who look down at me for keeping my hens inside a coop. They tell me that my chickens are still living in a cage. It just happens to be an outside cage. They try to convince me that my chickens would have such a BETTER LIFE if I would just let them out to be free.
I completely and absolutely disagree!
I may have only paid $2.00 for each chicken, but I have invested much much more to get them from chick stage to laying stage.
From costs of building the henhouse/coop, feed, electricity, bedding, feeding/watering supplies, to all the time and attention, they are worth far more than $2.00 each.
In our area, farmers sell egg-laying hens for $15-$25.00 each.
If I even allow one of my chickens to live a 'better life' by giving our local predators a free meal, I might as well just throw $20.00 bills out into the wind.
You know, I might live a 'better life' living in the African bush, free-ranging for my food. I'd be surrounded by hungry predators who can easily pick off my slow domesticated body.
But, at least I would have enjoyed my 'free-range' life while it lasted. (hahahaha!)
I like my chickens. They are more than egg layers to my family. Each one is special and valued to us. Losing even one would make me and my family very sad.
When I brought these chicks home, I took on the responsibility of raising them and keeping them safe.....just as I did with my own children.
Sure, my children would love to go rollerskate on a busy road, or run free at the grocery store or department store. But there are dangers in both places.....dangers lurking that could hurt them, kidnap them, and possibly kill them.
So to recap, I don't permit my children to run free without safety precautions.
And I don't permit my chickens to do that either.
That being said. I do make sure my chickens have plenty of fresh air, abundant sunlight, spacious room to move about, flap their wings and exercise, comfortable accomodations to sleep in, perch on, and lay their eggs, and some buddy chickens to snuggle up to and play with every day.
Sounds like a good life to me.
Monday, March 10, 2008
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17 comments :
I can't believe anyone would criticize your coop. It's beautiful and the outdoor run is huge! And it's not anyones beezwax anyway.
Other than late fall and winter, our hens are "free range" hens. We live in a wooded area and used to have a tick problem and saw them as a healthy alternative to chemicals on our lawn or lime disease.
I've lost some to predators and when it happens it is sad. I wouldn't want anyone telling me what I should do with my girls or that I don't care for them.
Don't in anyway feel like you have to defend your choices. I for one have your back.
Remember - you can't go on the Guilt Trip if you don't buy the ticket.
The American Egg Board is.... mistaken.
The nutrient content of eggs is not affected by whether hens are raised free-range or in floor or cage operations,
If you compare hens that are of the legal free range definition, having "access to the outdoors" but not ever having to step foot outside or ever see grass and insects, sure, it's the same. If you compare hens that do go outside, eat bugs, etc. they are different. Omega 3 fatty acids are one example. Tree free range hens produce eggs higher in Omega 3's.
but rather by the breed of chickens laying the eggs, and what those chickens are fed in their diet
Breed dictates shell color, not nutrition. Mother Earth News talks about this in a recent article, and it mentions the Egg Board specifically. The Egg Board isn't going to admit that they support the commercial production of inferior eggs. It's a shame they can get away with this. MEN article.
As long as you're doing the best for you and your birds what everyone else thinks is irrelevant to your chickens. Perhaps these folks would like to come over and hang out with your hens to keep them safe while they're out. Mine aren't out without a farmcollie to protect them. And mine aren't out loose during the growing season because they can destroy a lot of food in a short amount of time. They're outside during the day but they're in pens. I toss them weeds during the day.
Spring's coming and we'll all be outside working off our energy with all of our bodies, not just our fingers.
I'm loving your comments on my blog, and I loved being able to find yours through your comments. It's a fun blog! I look forward to reading more.
I'm with you (obviously) on this one. Where we live, with owls, weasels, and stray dogs aplenty, my poor chickens would just be a free lunch.
I'm looking at different options since I would love to have my chickens help control the earwig population here, but right now they will have to be confined.
Sarah
Hi Seasonseatingfarm,
No, I've never traveled on the free-range chicken guilt-trip-train, but I do get weary of people that try to hand out those free tickets.
I will be honest with you and let you know, that the people who have thumbed their noses at me and others who do choose to keep their chickens in a coop, were very good at quoting from articles by Mother Earth News and other Farm/Homesteading Publications.
So, excuse me if I'm a little 'prickly' in my reply.
You said:
"If you compare hens that are of the legal free range definition, having "access to the outdoors" but not ever having to step foot outside or ever see grass and insects, sure, it's the same."
~I read the Mother Earth News article, and while I agree with most everything, I'm not so sure that testing 6 eggs off of only 14 farms in the entire United States gives an exact scientific result of the majority of consumable eggs, either free-range or commerical.
Did MEN test the pasture of each of those 14 farms, including, but not limited to: grass quality and type, amount of sunshine and rain received?
How about insect and worm types and the numbers available in each given pasture?
Did they find out what other feed may have been fed and the ingredients of each brand from each farm?
And most importantly, did they test the eggs during each season: Spring, Winter, Summer, Fall?
True, reliable and scientific testing covers ALL variables. Just picking up 6 eggs from 14 farms cannot give an accurate result across the board, for comparison.
And I don't think there really is a true legal definition of free-range. It jumps all over the board and is defined in differing ways by different people.
In addition, 'having access to' is a lot different from being given a tiny window or door and actually being permitted or invited to step outside. Access means just that: freedom to enter or approach something easily = Accessibility.
To pass the 'test' in 'giving access' an establishment would have to do alot more than tease a chicken with a small window or door.
You said:
"Breed dictates shell color, not nutrition. Mother Earth News talks about this in a recent article, and it mentions the Egg Board specifically. The Egg Board isn't going to admit that they support the commercial production of inferior eggs. It's a shame they can get away with this."
~Mother Earth News talks alot, and loudly. But I don't see any postnotes on where or how they get their facts or information, and how their readers can be assured of the validity of their written information.
And while I completely agree that free-range eggs are better, not just in quality and tase, but also in the humane treatment of chickens, I also have some cautious concerns of any organization that feels the need to jump up on a pedestal and shout to the world what they believe, in order to, what? Validate their own choices? Make other people who don't do as they do, feel badly? Make everyone think that there is only one way of doing things, and it's only their way?
For example, I choose to homeschool my children. I know it is the best choice for my family. And while I disagree with the public school concept, I would not ever force my choices and beliefs on anyone else. Not everyone can homeschool or wants to. It's a choice. No different than keeping coop chickens or allowing chickens free-range.
Finally, I don't see why breed can't effect egg nutrition. It affects meat nutrition and quality.
A good example: Butcher and then taste a Cornish Game Hen, and then try a common Rhode Island Red. They do taste and butcher differently, just as different cattle breeds affect meat flavor, fat content and quality.
And breed absolutely affects dairy cows and dairy goat through their milk, quality, amount, and taste.
But in the end, the real input in how a chicken or it's egg tastes has much more to do with what it eats.
And as I said before, the variables on each farm, pasture, and even during each season can make a big difference.
sugarcreekstuff,
Thanks for commenting and for your support.
Being told how to keep and raise my own chickens, like you said, is what I am truly bothered by.
As you know, I spent months and months planning for and preparing for our backyard chickens. Their comfort, happiness and safety were of utmost importance to me.
I did not take it lightly to say the least.
So for anyone to chastise me, claim that my eggs are not as good of quality as theirs, or try to make me feel guilty for keeping my chickens in a coop, instead of running free on a pasture, caused the hair on my neck to rise up.
So I appreciate knowing you 'have my back' in support.
Thanks :o)
Thanks for visiting and leaving such a friendly comment, Pichinde. I, too, look forward to visiting your wonderful Blog more often.
You have weasels, eh? Do you need to fortify your coop or henhouse any differently with those sneaky critters lurking about?
Here we have a lot of flying predators, including hawks, crows, owls, ravens and eagles. I would have liked not to have to install the bird netting our coop, because it tends to sag, especially under heavy snow. But without it, the avian predators would swoop down and grab our chickens every day, until they were all gone.
We also have large packs of coyotes and a few stray dogs.
With all the predators, doesn't it sometimes feel you are in a video game of "Protect the Chickens and Stay Smarter than the Predators"? haha
Wish it were that easy, though. When planning for chickens, I had visions of looking out my window and seeing happy foraging hens roaming freely, but it was not meant to be.
Our chicken can also only range in their coop, they do have a little outside space, but right now, in snow and ice, they prefer their house!
I agree, your hens are 'happy hens'/.
I was in bed thinking how I typed lime and not lyme, my excuse it was late and the time change gets to me. I'm not a total idiot, ok, sometimes I am.
As far as the health of eggs, not giving them the antibiotics or hormone junk, should automatically make them a more healthy egg. Right?
Hi Twinville,
We had our guineas loose and almost never found their nests. We are in the process of catching(easier said than done) them. We hope to have them raise some baby guineas this year. When we get our baby chicks they too will have to be in a coop because of all the wild critters here. I agree,it is like throwing money to wind to let the chickens be a good meal for a coyote,opossum or whatever animal is roaming around,plus I wouldn't like it either.
Good job on your write-up. I really enjoyed reading it.
Well, if people say YOUR coop is small, they should come criticize me, too! Our coop is smaller then your chicken's coop, and our run, too! We wanted free range chickens, but we have preditors outside, too, and a dog! You have a very nice coop and run! HUGE! Compared to those poor commercial hens, yours (and my family's) have great lives!
Thanks for the comment on my blog, btw! I'm going to 'bookmark' yours! :-)
Here! Here! We used to raise meat chickens and eggs for sale to restaurants and private parties.(Long story why we're not anymore) The chickens were an integral part of our pasture rotation. We decided to call it fresh range as opposed to free range. We now just raise grass fed beef, pork and turkeys. I think the Disney world everyone grew up in, weighs heavily on their psyche, and is causing too much anthropomorphism. I feel my animals would rather be taken care of someone who cares for them and insures that they are not prey everyday of their lives. I know I'm killing them in the end, but I'm sorry about being at the top of the food chain. Too many small new homesteads can't even begin to see the impact of what they are doing this season, and the effects that it will have on future seasons in regards to parasites, diminished food supply for their animals... It takes time to properly manage a farm or farmstead. I think laziness is a big factor. I could blab on about this forever - so I'm stopping. Thanks for the great blog, I just discovered it today.
twinville, I too keep my chickens in a pen. If I didn't it wouldn't be a matter of if something got them but when. Another side to the free range thing is that chickens don't stay on their own property. If you have no neighbors that isn't a problem but most people do. My neighbor bought himself 25 straight run chicks and raised them and set them out to "free range." Well they free ranged themselves on over to our place. They left their calling cards everywhere and crowed all night long. My hubby said something to him and he said "those are free range chickens" and my hubby shot back with "free ranged them on your own property." Well he never did and over time they were shot by other neighbors and eaten by predators. The last two are the ones I call "The Ladies" and for some reason they manage to survive. I have wanted to pen them up but since they aren't "mine" I don't feel right doing that.
Our chickens have names and are pet first so we protect them.
I think you're doing the best thing for YOUR chickens that live on YOUR farm. Everybody's situation is different, and the simple fact that you feel like your chickens are pets necessitates your protecting them like pets. So. Good for you, I say!
Gudl,
You have beautiful and happy chickens, too. I enjoyed watching Mell's chicken coop video she posted on her blog.
sugarcreekstuff,
re;Lime, lyme...I knew what you meant, that's all that matters! hehe
And I agree about the healthiness of the egg. Every little bit counts.
Hey GA Farmgirl! Thanks for stopping in. You know how I feel about guineas. I'd love to have a few, but I bet my neighbors would complain about their noise.
Are the guinea eggs the same in flavor as chicken eggs?
I hope you will post some pics of the baby guinea after they're born!
Thanks for posting a comment on my blog, Mell. I agree with you. We ave to just do our best at giving our chickens the things that make their lives happy and healthy, while still keeping them safe.
Your chickens look happy and healthy, too. I enjoyed watching your coop video.
Rita,
Thanks so very much for visiting my blog and leaving such a thoughtful comment.
I am impressed and grateful for people such as you that can still feel empathy and respect for the animals in their care, even if the same animals are doomed for the dinner table one day.
By the way, I just started reading your blog, too. And I am really enjoying it.
I especially like the post on your family cow. A Family cow was on the top of my list, but then I realized that it might be too much for us. So now we are considering a dairy goat instead.
I can't wait to read more of your blog posts.
goatgirl,
Thanks for sharing another aspect about free-range hens, that doesn't get talked about all that much. I don't think everyone appreciates their neighbor's chickens free-ranging on their property. And I can bet that the free-range chicken owners aren't all that happy when the neighbor's dogs end up atacking those chickens while they are in their yard.
I think,if a farm has a safe enough area and the farm is large enough, then free-range can work.
But I think too many people really don't have enough land or safe acreage for free range chickens.
I think part of the free-range movement is related to idealistic expectations. I can say that because I had them, too. Then I really looked hard at the property we are living on and the predators that live here, too. And realized that free range is just not a reality for us.
And like you, our chickens are pets, just like dogs. And we don't permit our dogs to free-range wherever they want either.
Thanks again for stopping by!
Hi DV,
Thanks for saying that, and I agree with you. The best thing we can do as chicken owners is just respect each other for doing the best for our chickens by giving them food, shelter, water and space to exercise and get some fresh air and sunshine.
Your chickens look pretty happy, too.
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