There is a lot of debate about what is "free range" and what isn't. The legalities of the definition vary depending on what country you are in. In most places it means the chickens have grass under foot. In my own world, it means they are in a chicken coop at night for their own safety, but let loose in the yard for the day.
Either way it is a far better situation for them than in the battery of cages that most chickens in the laying industry live in. What thrills me, as a keeper of my own free range hens, is that there have been studies done to prove that free range eggs really are healthier for you to eat.
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Brown Eggs or White?
Brown egg shells or white egg shells do not indicate the quality of the egg inside. It only indicates the type of chicken that the egg came from. It is not even an indicator of free range status, or what the hens eat. There are even blue and green eggs, which come from certain breeds of chickens, such as Araucanas.
Health Benefits of Free Range Eggs
- For starters they are often fresher, as with most foods the fresher the foods the healthier they will be. It is often possible to buy free range eggs directly from the farmer, from a farmers market, or in my case, I just take them from my hens every morning. Please note, my hens do not have roosters with them, so it is not like I am stealing their babies, they are of a breed that does not pay attention to their eggs after laying them.
- Free range eggs have been found to be lower in cholesterol, by as much as 30%.
- Free range eggs contain 2 times more Vitamin A and E.
- Free range eggs are alkaline. Battery hen eggs are acidic. Studies have shown that diets higher in alkaline foods are likely to prevent cancer.
- Free range eggs have twice as much Omega-3 Fatty Acid. This is very likely due to the hens having a more varied diet.
- Free range eggs have ¼ of saturated fat than do battery hen eggs.
- Free range eggs have 5 times more Beta Carotene.
Benefits for the Chickens
- Free range chickens are able to eat a diet closer to their natural diet, this includes a variety of bugs and fresh greens.
- Free range hens are less stressed and fight less.
- Free range hens get sunlight, fresh air, and other things that contribute to a healthier animal.
- Free range hens have something under their feet, other than painful wire.
- Free range hens are allowed to sit on their eggs until they are ready to get off. In battery situations the eggs roll away from them as the wire cages are on a slant.
- They have more mentally stimulating lives, surely something they appreciate.
Other Benefits
- Free range eggs often come from local sources, it is considered more environmentally friendly to buy food from local sources. In fact this can be so local, it is your own back yard! Well, unless you live in the country, you need to check local bylaws.
- Free range chickens eat bugs, like flies, grasshoppers, and mosquitoes, they also love dandelions, even more than grass.
- Many local farmers keep a few hens as extra side income. By supporting them, you contribute to the local economy, in comparison many battery farms are now becoming corporate factory farms, with money going to head offices.
- When you support keeping birds in less cruel environments, you put a dent in the battery hen industry.
Battery Hens?
At one day of age they are sexed, the females are vaccinated, their wings and beaks cut. They are put into small cages to grow, since they will not start laying until 4 or 5 months of age, often their diet will include hormones to speed up their development. When the hens reach laying age, two or three birds are put together into tiny wire cages, about the size of a large cat carrier.
They are under artificial light, they will never see the sun, or feel grass under their feet. The barns are hot, and smelly, with low air quality. The birds will be killed at about 1/15 of their normal lifespan, basically because they go into a natural molt at this time and temporarily stop laying. This is no way to treat an animal that provides us with food. Especially when we learn that the better we treat the birds, we actually get healthier eggs.
Final Words
In some cases "Free Range" does not mean the birds are free to roam on the grass all day long, like my hens do, but it is still an improvement over keeping them in horrid conditions of the battery factory type farms.
Visually the free range eggs look better, the yolks are darker and stand up fuller. I find they taste better too.
If you can put a dent in the cruel practice of battery hen farming, and serve up healthier eggs, then why wouldn't you?
Good work!