"grass fed" & "free range" ???

girl81 · 09-24-2009, 11:55 PM

Are the terms "grass fed" & "free range" interchangable?

I'm trying to find local grass-fed chicken and eggs. I've seen chicken in my store that claims to be "raised on a vegetarian diet" but a vegetarian diet could include grains so I don't know why they're even advertising that (unless to fool unsuspecting customers).
Any advice/insights?

doggz109 · 09-25-2009, 03:23 AM

I could be wrong.......but I don't think chickens usually eat grass. They eat bugs, grains, maybe some parts of plants....but not grass usually.

Grass fed usually refers to larger animals like cows, goats, lambs, etc.

Free-range just means they aren't kept in cages, but they could still be fed grain/corn.

Chasintrail · 09-25-2009, 07:32 AM

For eggs you want to look for pastured chickens. Free range doesn't really mean much, just that they have access to the outside. Other than a couple local high-end stores I don't think I've seen pastured eggs around here outside of farmer's markets.

Your best bet is to find a local farmer that lets his chickens roam around and eat everything (and chickens will eat anything that doesn't eat them first). It's worth tracking down "real" eggs and chickens, the taste difference alone is worth it, the health benefits are a bonus!

Vegetarian diets for chickens <violent eye roll> Chickens are NOT vegetarians. Veggie fed chickens probably get plenty of soy. Bad things...

butters · 09-25-2009, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chasintrail

For eggs you want to look for pastured chickens. Free range doesn't really mean much, just that they have access to the outside. Other than a couple local high-end stores I don't think I've seen pastured eggs around here outside of farmer's markets.

Your best bet is to find a local farmer that lets his chickens roam around and eat everything (and chickens will eat anything that doesn't eat them first). It's worth tracking down "real" eggs and chickens, the taste difference alone is worth it, the health benefits are a bonus!

Vegetarian diets for chickens <violent eye roll> Chickens are NOT vegetarians. Veggie fed chickens probably get plenty of soy. Bad things...

^This. Chickens aren't vegetarians by design. You might find what you're looking for here:
Pastured Products Directory - Eat Wild
Good luck!

girl81 · 09-26-2009, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chasintrail

Vegetarian diets for chickens <violent eye roll> Chickens are NOT vegetarians. Veggie fed chickens probably get plenty of soy. Bad things...

My thoughts exactly.

Great info Tamara. I'm now on a mission to find pastured eggs and chicken in my area.

girl81 · 09-26-2009, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by butters

^This. Chickens aren't vegetarians by design. You might find what you're looking for here:
Pastured Products Directory - Eat Wild
Good luck!

Great site! Thank you.

fawn · 09-26-2009, 07:20 PM

Look for duck eggs too grl....they're lovely and a bit richer than chicken.....

girl81 · 09-26-2009, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fawn

Look for duck eggs too grl....they're lovely and a bit richer than chicken.....

I was hoping you'd chime in fawn.

I'll check around for them.
Do you eat pastured chicken?

fawn · 09-27-2009, 09:35 AM

I do.....I've transitioned in the last 2 years to all grass fed, wild caught and pastured.....It's a bit restrictive but I feel good and try to obtain what I can and live with that. In other words, I've given up cuts like rib eye and filet mignon for all grass fed ground beef that is less than 150 miles from me.

ellenwyo · 09-27-2009, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doggz109

I could be wrong.......but I don't think chickens usually eat grass. They eat bugs, grains, maybe some parts of plants....but not grass usually.

Grass fed usually refers to larger animals like cows, goats, lambs, etc.

Free-range just means they aren't kept in cages, but they could still be fed grain/corn.

Chickens love grass. My chickens love spring grasses especially, and will eat that over scratch feed, if given a choice.

DiamondDeb · 09-27-2009, 07:55 PM

Free-range can also mean they are not caged, but are running around inside a building.

I could only get 1 dozen eggs at the farmers market Saturday & am rationing them because I have not found another source.

girl81 · 09-27-2009, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fawn

I do.....I've transitioned in the last 2 years to all grass fed, wild caught and pastured.....It's a bit restrictive but I feel good and try to obtain what I can and live with that. In other words, I've given up cuts like rib eye and filet mignon for all grass fed ground beef that is less than 150 miles from me.

That's my goal as well. I believe stongly in this issue.

girl81 · 09-27-2009, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ellenwyo

Chickens love grass. My chickens love spring grasses especially, and will eat that over scratch feed, if given a choice.

How many chickens do you have? Are they difficult to raise? Any advice to someone considering starting to raise chickens?

ellenwyo · 09-28-2009, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by girl81

How many chickens do you have? Are they difficult to raise? Any advice to someone considering starting to raise chickens?

We have 4 now, but have had 18 at one time in the past. They are not difficult to raise. I have a list of tips here on my website: Raising Chickens is Easy

There are links at the bottom of my page which have lots of good information as well.

girl81 · 09-28-2009, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ellenwyo

We have 4 now, but have had 18 at one time in the past. They are not difficult to raise. I have a list of tips here on my website: Raising Chickens is Easy

There are links at the bottom of my page which have lots of good information as well.

Ty Ellen.

I will be looking into this when I have more time.

LeanLioness · 09-29-2009, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fawn

Look for duck eggs too grl....they're lovely and a bit richer than chicken.....

Yes, we started eating duck eggs last Fall. They are richer and bigger.

grammie2rylee · 09-29-2009, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doggz109

I could be wrong.......but I don't think chickens usually eat grass. They eat bugs, grains, maybe some parts of plants....but not grass usually.

Grass fed usually refers to larger animals like cows, goats, lambs, etc.

Free-range just means they aren't kept in cages, but they could still be fed grain/corn.

I have had chickens much of my life. You are right...free range chickens eat bugs, some grains..crushed oyster shells(for their beaks) etc. They roam around and eat and scratch all day..LOL! But, when I have been unable to have my own chickens I buy free range eggs preferably in paper cartons..for the enviroment. the chickens are not stuck in cages all day ..they are free to roam around all day!

vli1127 · 09-29-2009, 03:51 PM

I suppose it depends on the city you live in, but are there ordinances that disallow chickens in town?

anipomoni · 09-29-2009, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chasintrail

(and chickens will eat anything that doesn't eat them first).

This is so funny! My grandmother has always had chickens and god forbid you try and throw away anything off your plate, she will have a fit. They eat anything and everything that we didn't. Except lemon seeds and bones.

girl81 · 09-29-2009, 11:23 PM

Would their omega 3 content spike if they were fed ground flax? Studies have shown it increases with grass-feeding over grain-feed.

Chasintrail · 09-30-2009, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fawn

Look for duck eggs too grl....they're lovely and a bit richer than chicken.....

Mmmmm, have to hit the local farm auction.

I don't care for duck eggs cooked, for some reason the whites are just too "proteiny" for me. But they make the most amazing mayo!

girl81 · 10-01-2009, 11:27 PM

CHICKENS FED FLAXSEED LAY FATTY ACID EGGS | Article from The Washington Post | HighBeam Research

Response to my previous post.

09-24-2009, 11:55 PM	#1
girl81 Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: USA Posts: 946 Gallery: girl81 Stats: past/100/healthy WOE: unprocessed	"grass fed" & "free range" ??? Are the terms "grass fed" & "free range" interchangable? I'm trying to find local grass-fed chicken and eggs. I've seen chicken in my store that claims to be "raised on a vegetarian diet" but a vegetarian diet could include grains so I don't know why they're even advertising that (unless to fool unsuspecting customers). Any advice/insights?

09-25-2009, 07:32 AM	#3
Chasintrail Senior LCF Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 846 Gallery: Chasintrail Stats: 205/? size 10/8-10 5'6" WOE: VLC/high-fat/real food	For eggs you want to look for pastured chickens. Free range doesn't really mean much, just that they have access to the outside. Other than a couple local high-end stores I don't think I've seen pastured eggs around here outside of farmer's markets. Your best bet is to find a local farmer that lets his chickens roam around and eat everything (and chickens will eat anything that doesn't eat them first). It's worth tracking down "real" eggs and chickens, the taste difference alone is worth it, the health benefits are a bonus! Vegetarian diets for chickens <violent eye roll> Chickens are NOT vegetarians. Veggie fed chickens probably get plenty of soy. Bad things... __________________ Tamara

09-29-2009, 11:23 PM	#20
girl81 Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: USA Posts: 946 Gallery: girl81 Stats: past/100/healthy WOE: unprocessed	Would their omega 3 content spike if they were fed ground flax? Studies have shown it increases with grass-feeding over grain-feed. Last edited by girl81; 09-29-2009 at 11:24 PM..

10-01-2009, 11:27 PM	#22
girl81 Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: USA Posts: 946 Gallery: girl81 Stats: past/100/healthy WOE: unprocessed	CHICKENS FED FLAXSEED LAY FATTY ACID EGGS \| Article from The Washington Post \| HighBeam Research Response to my previous post. Last edited by girl81; 10-01-2009 at 11:30 PM..

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09-25-2009, 03:23 AM	#2
doggz109 Senior LCF Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: SF Bay Area, CA Posts: 197 Gallery: doggz109 Stats: 382/345/180 WOE: Atkins - DANDR Start Date: Feb 2009	I could be wrong.......but I don't think chickens usually eat grass. They eat bugs, grains, maybe some parts of plants....but not grass usually. Grass fed usually refers to larger animals like cows, goats, lambs, etc. Free-range just means they aren't kept in cages, but they could still be fed grain/corn.

09-26-2009, 07:20 PM	#7
fawn Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 12,204 Gallery: fawn Stats: sz 18/4 WOE: Whole organic, free range, wild caught, pastured Start Date: February 7, 2000	Look for duck eggs too grl....they're lovely and a bit richer than chicken.....

09-27-2009, 09:35 AM	#9
fawn Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 12,204 Gallery: fawn Stats: sz 18/4 WOE: Whole organic, free range, wild caught, pastured Start Date: February 7, 2000	I do.....I've transitioned in the last 2 years to all grass fed, wild caught and pastured.....It's a bit restrictive but I feel good and try to obtain what I can and live with that. In other words, I've given up cuts like rib eye and filet mignon for all grass fed ground beef that is less than 150 miles from me.

09-27-2009, 07:55 PM	#11
DiamondDeb Fat Burning Machine Extraordinaire! Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 53,774 Gallery: DiamondDeb	Free-range can also mean they are not caged, but are running around inside a building. I could only get 1 dozen eggs at the farmers market Saturday & am rationing them because I have not found another source.

09-29-2009, 03:51 PM	#18
vli1127 MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Midwest Posts: 1,732 Gallery: vli1127 Stats: 230/166.5/170 5' 6" 49 yr. old WOE: LC my way Start Date: May 08'	I suppose it depends on the city you live in, but are there ordinances that disallow chickens in town?