What Do Free Range Means

Free range is a term that refers to a method of animal husbandry where animals are able to roam freely outdoors rather than being confined by an enclosure for 24 hours a day.

What do free range means.

Free range means hens have adequate space to move around inside their houses and have access to an outdoor space where they can roam freely. The usda says free range or free roaming chicken must be allowed access to the outside but that can be interpreted in many different. In practice this can mean the chickens live most of their lives outdoors retreating to their coop only when weather or other factors require them to do so or it can mean the chickens spend all their time in cramped indoor pens that have a small door opened to the outside for just a few. That means that because the usda doesn t regulate the type or amount of outdoor access required these nutritional benefits may not apply to all chicken products labeled as free range.

The rspca states that chickens must have a defined amount of space no more than 13 birds a square metre be 56 days old before they are. For chickens to be free range the birds must be allowed access to the outside according to the usda. What is free range chicken.