Free-range chickens have access to grass and produce eggs that are often harder, more golden, and better tasting than standard eggs. However, the term “free-range” can be overused by merchandisers, and not all commercial free-range egg operations treat their hens humanely. The best place to purchase free-range eggs is from small farms or farmer’s markets. Switching to free-range eggs is a growing trend worldwide.
The term “free range” is typically used to mean any animal that is allowed to roam freely across fields, rather than being confined to a cage or pen. Free-range chickens are chickens that have access to grass for at least part of the day, and free-range eggs are the eggs that free-range chickens produce.
While the USDA has strict guidelines for what constitutes a free-range chicken, there are no such guidelines for free-range eggs, so the term can be used at will and is sometimes overused by merchandisers. Cage-free is another term with the same meaning: Many eggs in grocery stores are labeled “free-range” or “cage-free” and can cost more than twice as much as traditional eggs from caged hens.
In general, free-range hens are healthier and have a more nutritious diet than hens that are kept in cages constantly. As a result, eggs that are truly “free range eggs” tend to have harder shells, more golden yolks, and better flavor than standard eggs.
Many people buy free-range eggs for ethical reasons, because they have the impression that free-range hens are treated more humanely than battery-operated hens. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. In many commercial free-range egg operations, the hens are intentionally debugged and starved so that they continue to lay eggs, much like battery hens.
The best place to purchase free-range eggs is from a small farm or a farmer’s market. Many farms raise chickens and sell free-range eggs from chickens that aren’t overused. If you have the space, you might even consider raising your own chicks and keeping the hens for their eggs. That way, you’ll be able to wake up to delicious free-range eggs every morning. This is a substantial commitment, however. This way, you will need to make sure that you have adequate shelter for the chickens and that you will be able to provide them with high quality food every day.
Switching to free-range eggs is a growing trend around the world. Google headquarters recently made the decision to use only free-range eggs in its cafeteria, and the agricultural college at the University of Canada Guelph has committed to only serving free-range eggs in their dining hall.
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