Free Range? Pasture Raised? Cage Free?
I have personally gone to the store and stared at the egg isle in Walmart for long enough that I am sure people think I am crazy. Eventually I just decided on the cheapest eggs and walked away quickly so no one called security on me for staring at eggs for so long....
Lets start with the Myths:
When you hear the term "free range" what do you think of? Most likely the same as everyone else, a chicken running free and stretching her wings in a big green pasture in front of the sunset!? OK maybe not exactly the same thing as me but close. This is on purpose. they use this idea to sell their eggs. This sadly is not exactly how the chickens are actually treated.
"Cage Free" is almost just as bad as "Free Range". Maybe as American we are drawn to the word free? Any way it goes we want to imagine these chickens living good lives in a sheltered loving home. This too, is a little too hopeful.
Lets look at the Facts:
Look at this chart and find the tiny red spec. That my friends is how much space a cage free hen is required to have to live ,and they will never see the outdoors.
Look to the left at the slightly bigger Yellow dot. That is a "free range" chicken. That is no pasture in front of a sunset if I have ever seen it! Better than cage free but still not the kind of quality of life my animals deserve!
They also may only get to poke their heads outside, no grazing, no dirt baths, NO FUN!
Next stand back a little bit to look at the big green square. One hen is required to have at least 108 square feet to live in to be considered Pasture raised. They also get to glaze on grass and bugs and get all day outdoor access
Pasture Raised:
Pasture raised, most haven't even heard that term before. Mostly it is because the odds of finding pasture raised eggs in the store is close to impossible. With the high standards held to raise pasture raised animals, in raises the cost and makes it close to impossible to turn a large profit if any profit at all on the eggs. These eggs have better nutrients because the chicken is grazing on grass and bugs and supplementing their diet with all this fresh food, not just the mush we give day in and day out. Also they get sunshine and exercise daily. Better stuff in = Better egg out! Mostly these egg will be bought local from small farmers or off from craigslist and such.
Local Eggs:
Buying local eggs is great! I am one of those small farmers selling their eggs on craigslist every year in hopes to pay for at least half of my feed costs for the week :) For the most part these eggs will be much fresher, and if you do get pasture raised then what a SCORE! Not all local eggs are pasture raised. You have to know how much sapce they have, and if they are turned out on grass everyday. Most local eggs will be either Free Range or Pasture Raised. On average, eggs in our area go for $3-$4 a dozen, so compared to "free range" at the store you will usually even save a little money!
Hopefully you have enough facts now to go out and conquer the egg isle, and maybe even have a better idea of what you want when you buy eggs locally! Happy egg hunting!
