Free-Range Certification In India

CDG provides Free-Range certification in India.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), free range means that chickens have access to the outdoors for at least some part of the day, whether the chickens choose to go outside or not. There are no requirements for length of time the chicken must spend outdoors, the size of the outdoor area or the type of groundcover. Less than 1% of chickens nationwide are raised as “free range,” according to the National Chicken Council.

All chickens need protection from predators and the outside elements. Free range chickens are provided varying degrees of shelter based on producer preference, and conventional chickens live in large, open structures called growout houses where they are free to walk around and commune with other chickens. In practice, most chickens stay close to water and feed, which is usually located inside the chicken house. Young chickens need more shelter and temperature control as they’re less able to regulate body temperature. As the chickens grow bigger and feather out, they require cooler temperatures to regulate body temperature.

Not all free range chicken is organic (chickens could be raised with access to the outdoors but not under any of the other criteria needed to be certified organic), but all organic chicken is free range (in order to receive organic certification, chickens must have access to the outdoors, among other criteria).

Additionally, chickens raised in houses are just as healthy as free range chickens.

Benefits of Free Range Chickens

Raising free range chickens has many benefits. Because the birds are not confined to small areas, they get greater amounts of exercise, building up more muscles and more protein in their meat than birds with restricted habitats. Free range chickens generally have lower fat content and fewer calories in their meat and eggs as well, and many consumers believe free range chickens and their eggs to have a better, richer taste. The birds’ better health helps them be more resistant to pests and disease, though they can be more susceptible to predators such as foxes and raccoons. With more room to roam, free range chickens tend to have fewer issues with anxiety, aggression, and territoriality, even with larger flocks.

The costs of caring for free range chickens can also be lower than confined flocks. Because the birds forage naturally for a wide range of foods, there is less need for expensive feed or supplemental pellets. Free range chickens will also provide natural pest control for a garden or landscape as they snap up all types of bugs and munch on weeds and seeds, and their natural pecking, scratching, and digging will aerate and till soil while their droppings become excellent fertilizer. A large flock can lead to a messy or damaged garden area, however, so be aware of that consequence before setting the birds free. Depending on the degree of ranging the birds may do or what spaces are available to them, they may also be considered “pastured” “old-fashioned” “open-raised” or other, similar terms, but the challenges and needs for their care are the same.

contact CDG for Free Range cetification in India.