Where to buy real free range chickens?

[mwok]

Where do you buy real free range chickens (that actually live and move around in the pasture as opposed to the FDA definition of free range) and that eats it's natural diet (worms etc) instead of vegetarian/corn feed. Must have online store and fedex shipping. Also, can you be sure about places like this...is there any certifications etc?

[kengk]

Check Craigs list. It is amazing how many people give away unwanted roosters because they don't want to kill them. Usually about when they start crowing and making a nuisance out of themselves. You could inquire if they have been free ranged. My birds have to stay in their coop while I'm at work but they get turned out everyday when I get home.

Also, commercial chickens are not given hormones. None, anywhere.

[Puffin3]

Visit your Farmers market and ask farmers who are selling 'free range' chickens if you can drop by their farm and pick up a chicken sometime. The ones that say "sure" are going to be looking after their birds. If you drive by a farm that has chickens wandering around in their own poop in the mud keep going.

[cvbozka]

You can buy from www.uddermilk.com they will be delivery to your home. I am so happy , they delivery to me eggs, milk meat and I love it. Everything is so fresh and good tasty.

[Bada Bing]

I can't tell from your posts or profile where you live, but there's almost certainly a small farm near you. Why not take a trip!

Many of them slaughter and freeze livestock for retail sales. Farmers' markets might also fill the bill.

[02putt]

Free Range is a gimmick to make consumers feel like their dinner was at least treated humanely like a lot of other claims about chicken...hormone free, antibiotic free etc. All free range means is that the doors to the coops are opened and the chicken is given the choice to go outside even if it is only for 30 seconds they can label it as free range. Hormone free? All chickens in Canada are hormone free as it is illegal to give the chickens hormones. So why advertise it? Antibiotic free means the chickens are not feed antibiotics regularly. If a chicken in the coop gets sick all are treated or the farmer would lose all of his chickens. The marketing board in Canada is very diligent in enforcing the laws and those who would dare violate it are severely fined or would lose their quota. This information comes from a very good friend whose father has been a chicken farmer for over 30 years without incident. He worked on the farm from childhood through university. I wouldn't argue with him.

[MGZ]

Here in New Jersey, it is possible to but birds right off local farms - fresh. As I don't know where you're located, I can't help too much, but I would suggest that you raise the question on your local board as well. You may find this to be preferable, and more affordable, to online ordering.

You are quite correct in recognizing the difference between commercial "free range" and true, pastured birds. I have found that even in places like Whole Foods, the staff is not aware of the difference and will, wrongly, suggest that all of the poutry would satisfy your request.

[Miss Needle]

You want to look for "pastured chickens." Here's a link where you can buy them online.

http://www.localharvest.org/organic-c...

[mwok]

Ugh, that's pastured fed but grain finished. Does localharvest.org certify/verify that the farm actually has pastured chickens?