Rex Harrill wrote:

>
> Kirt, she probably meant to say *free range*.   This implies a system where
> the birds roost in a gated coop (for predator security), but have free access
> to pasture during the day.  OTOH, I and Susan Defelice, who I mentioned
> earlier, raise ours in moveable, bottomless cages.  Even though the caged
> birds are moved to fresh grass frequently, they can't properly be labeled
> "free range."  A point here is that in both cases the birds have constant
> access to dry feed (commercial in the worst case and organic in the best).
>
> Finally, I suspect the NY farmer, just as Susan and I, only runs his meat
> chickens in batches---generally from April to October.  Meat chickens take
> about 8 weeks to mature.  Layers kept over winter must always have access to
> dry feed as the ground is not only often snow-covered in this area, but the
> grass, and associated insect life, are sparse.
>
> Hope you don't mind me stepping in here, Ellie.

Not at all. In fact I didn't make it clear when I spoke of range fed
animals. I was speaking of his Beefalo, not of the chickens.

My best, Ellie