Free Range vs. Run

[LiveLocally]

Can anyone help define Free Range vs. Run?

I see it as, truly free range means no enclosure, and chickens have access outdoors with as much space as they dare to venture.

Then run means they have access to the great outdoors in a protective enclosure, outside of their coop.

Most "backyard" chickens most-likely need to be in a run (neighbors and such), but I also see that as a form of "free range." When I think of "backyard" vs. "battery cage" I see free (to an extent) and happy chickens vs. cruelly treated chickens.

Do you think it's safe to consider that chickens allowed in a run with adequate space are some form of "free range?"

 

[ChickenCanoe]

IMO, it's 50 shades of grey.
I have 8 flocks with anywhere from breeding pairs and trios in perhaps 10X20 rotating pastures to 10 or more birds in various sized pens with some forage in them and another flock that is truly free range.
I think if they have some forage and ground to scratch a dust bathing area they are way ahead of birds in a small barren pen or worse yet, a cage.

 

[ChickenLegs13]

It would have to be huge! My largest pen/run has 45 sq ft per bird and there's not a blade of grass, single bug, or stray seed in it.
I also say my chickens "free range" but actually they just use my 1 acre fenced yard as a run.
If it can support chickens without having to buy feed then it's safe to call it free range.

 

[centrarchid]

Can anyone help define Free Range vs. Run?

I see it as, truly free range means no enclosure, and chickens have access outdoors with as much space as they dare to venture.

Then run means they have access to the great outdoors in a protective enclosure, outside of their coop.

Most "backyard" chickens most-likely need to be in a run (neighbors and such), but I also see that as a form of "free range."  When I think of "backyard" vs. "battery cage" I see free (to an extent) and happy chickens vs. cruelly treated chickens.

Do you think it's safe to consider that chickens allowed in a run with adequate space are some form of "free range?"

By my definition the birds in a run typically do not get the same nutritional benefits as those truly free-range. Nutrition is most important. In some situations even those truly free-range do not care better than those in a run as the forage can be effectively depleted.

 

[bobbi-j]

Can anyone help define Free Range vs. Run?

I see it as, truly free range means no enclosure, and chickens have access outdoors with as much space as they dare to venture.

Then run means they have access to the great outdoors in a protective enclosure, outside of their coop.

Most "backyard" chickens most-likely need to be in a run (neighbors and such), but I also see that as a form of "free range." When I think of "backyard" vs. "battery cage" I see free (to an extent) and happy chickens vs. cruelly treated chickens.

Do you think it's safe to consider that chickens allowed in a run with adequate space are some form of "free range?"

I think it would depend upon what you call "adequate space" and if they have plenty of plants and bugs to eat. To me "free range" means no fence. Mine free range 9 months out of the year, basically, but we do have runs attached to our coops for the times we need to keep them locked up for their safety (like when my son comes to visit with his Golden Retriever who has not been trained to leave chickens alone). They are always cooped at night.

 

[3chickchicks]

I believe in "suburban free range" and "country free range".

Country free range, to me would be without fences. Suburban free range would be a big fenced yard. I think of a "run" as an enclosure that also has overhead protection and the ground is usually barren.

Mine are suburban free rangers. My yard is half an acre, fenced and I only have four birds. But they get grass, weeds, bugs, snakes, lizards, all of the stuff a country free range chicken would get. They're busy all day long and come back to the coop with full crops.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I believe in "suburban free range" and "country free range".

Country free range, to me would be without fences. Suburban free range would be a big fenced yard. I think of a "run" as an enclosure that also has overhead protection and the ground is usually barren.

Mine are suburban free rangers. My yard is half an acre, fenced and I only have four birds. But they get grass, weeds, bugs, snakes, lizards, all of the stuff a country free range chicken would get. They're busy all day long and come back to the coop with full crops.

Good explanation.
Some of mine are unlimited and some are in pens. Only one group is in a pen without vegetation. Most are in rotated pens. During 3 seasons, I move them into a pen that has forage a few inches tall and immediately plant the one they came out of. All of that is a moot point in winter when there is no vegetation or animal protein.

 

[MrsKroo]

.
If it can support chickens without having to buy feed then it's safe to call it free range.

Very interesting. I tend to agree with you. Free range means there’s no need for buying food, but is that even possible?
can a couple of hens free range a .25 acre fenced backyard and get all the nutrition they need?

 

[Folly's place]

No, they can't.
Game type and wild Jungle Fowl may produce 30 or so eggs each year, and live in tropical jungle type environments.
Our domestic chickens may produce 300+ eggs each year, and can't make it in anyone's suburban back yard, never mind in winter.
Having a balanced feed available all year, and then enjoying lower feed consumption when the bugs and worms are available is great, but totally self sustaining without anything else, not likely.
Carefully managing food plots, having the right birds, and being good with losses to predation, all part of the free range picture.
Here we feed all year, have a big coop/ run combination, and lots of varied land for free ranging. We do have losses to predators, and the birds will range over maybe four to five acres of our much larger property, because they don't want to be far from their night time coop.
Mary