<<Just came back from the supermarket and found, in addition to the usual
commercial chicken, 2 brands (Murray's and Bell and Evans) that say, "No
hormones or antibiotics, minimal processing." These are the brands I usually
buy, although they do NOT profess to be free range.  I also saw whole
chickens with no brand name, that just said, "Free range barnyard chickens"
but didn't say anything about not using any hormones or antibiotics. Nothing
else at all was on the label other than the usual weight, price, and "safe
handling" warning. Anybody have any comments?  Which is better, free range,
or no hormones but not free range?>>

As free range means little more than they are not stuck in a space unable to
move, I'd choose the hormone and antibiotic free.  You can assume that their
diet is better because the administration of prophylactic antibiotics is to
keep the birds from developing diseases based upon their poor feed which
does not nourish them.  The hormones, if administered, makes them grow to a
size they never could, being improperly nourished.

Siobhan