Chicken confusion
Chicken is an intensively reared agricultural product, and terminology used doesn’t always make things clear. Here’s some insight into terms you may encounter when purchasing a chicken to help you make the choices that are right for you.
Free run versus free range
Free run means chickens are not kept in cages and are free to roam, but conditions may be crowded indoors. Free range indicates they have to outdoor pasture but may be kept in similar crowded conditions indoors. Standards can vary from farm to farm as there is no set definition for these terms. At smaller local farms, you may be able to visit and better understand the practices.
Raised without antibiotics
Chickens raised without antibiotics placed in feed.
Organic
Chickens raised to standards of a relevant organic certification board, usually raised on organic feed free of animal biproducts or antibiotics; any supplements must be approved by a certification body.
Heritage breed
Refers to poultry breeds that were popular before modern farming, or prior to mid-20th century. Often, they’re slower growing and reared less intensively. They also may be reared by smaller, local farms.
Beware of marketing terms like “grain-fed,” “hormone-free,” and “steroid-free.” All chickens are fed grain and, in Canada, hormones and steroids are banned, so it’s a bit like saying “gluten-free lettuce.”
