Free Range, Cage Free, Pasture Raised... What does it all mean?

 When you buy products with labels like “cage-free, "free-range,” or “pasture-raised,” it’s easy to be fooled into thinking that these terms mean the same thing – that the animal was not in a cage. But there are some big differences!

If you don’t see any mention at all of the animal’s lifestyle on the package, you can be sure the animal was caged throughout its life. This goes for eggs as well: terms like “fresh” and “real,” may be written on the carton, but these terms are not regulated and have no official meaning.

“Caged” animals like chicken receive only 67 square inches of cage space, which is less space than a single sheet of letter-sized paper! In general, caged animals spend their entire lives with no room to turn around or spread their wings, let alone engage in vital natural behaviors like nesting or dust bathing. 

 It may seem like “cage-free” products are the answer to these problems but, unfortunately, this is a misleading term. While the label sounds synonymous with free-roaming, “cage-free” really means that chickens have only a single square foot of space to move around. The term does not mean they were given access to the outdoors. Not entirely the sunshine and pasture image the term “cage-free” conjures up! 

Our chickens are all pasture raised. They are loved and well cared for. They have never spent any time in a cage. They are safe in their coop at night, but all day are free to roam our almost 7 acres. This means they are eating a healthy diet of grasses, plants, bugs, worms, and anything else they can find. We also treat them with leftover fruits and veggies. Pasture raised eggs are healthier, much tastier, and often have a much darker yolk color. Once you taste pasture raised eggs, nothing else will do!