Defining free-range, cage free, etc.
August 21, 2007
A customer brought us in a article from the New York Times written on August 12 entitled “Suddenly, the Hunt Is On for Cage-Free Eggs.” The article described cage free versus caged chickens, in rather a neutral light (not good/not bad). What really caught my eye was the picture though. It showed hundreds of chickens, packed cheek to jowl in a building. Yes, cage free, but appauling none the less.
In an effort to feel good about their food, customers are starting to demand some rights for their chicken. Unfortunately, I think there is some breakdown in communication between what the customer thinks, and what is really happening.
Let’s start with the typical caged chicken. Packed 6 plus chickens to a cage, they live their short life on wire, not even being able to stretch a wing.
The next “improvement” is the cage free bird. Packed together by the hundreds in a building, they now can stretch a bit, but conditions are similiar to a person who just got up from their seat and is trying to leave Lambo Field after a Packer game. Not pleasant.
Now here comes the free-range chicken. Ah, finally some freedom (that’s what you are supposed to think). After being broodered in a building (raised from day old chicken to about 3 weeks old), they are allowed a small open door and a small patch of outside ground. Assuming they find their way outside, the small patch of ground is quickly turned into a dust/mud area by the natural scratching activity of the birds.
Finally, we come to pastured. This is the only word that tells you that the animal is allowed on pasture, the green stuff. They may be behind an electric mesh or truly allowed to free range, but they are able to eat grass and bugs to their hearts content. A true pasture system means some movement of animals, since chickens are notorious scratchers, and will destroy a pasture in a very short time if not moved.
Don’t be fooled by the marketers you want to feel good about something that really isn’t that good. Buy local. Ask questions. Talk to the farmer. Vote with your dollars.
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