Potential chicken producers need to determine why they are growing the chickens, for hobby or profit. “They also need to realize that growing birds in a free-range situation is a choice about how they produce birds and not on the quality of the finished product; scientifically there are no major differences between birds reared conventionally and those from free range farms,” said Jon Moyle, research associate for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Arkansas Research Service. “They also need to know that they will have to use more feed in order to grow the birds, as birds will typically grow at a slower rate and they gain little nutritional benefit from outdoor ranges.”
Raising free-range chickens means the chickens have continual access to a pasture or range. “Generally this would be such a large area that the birds do not kill off vegetation or they are moved periodically to a new range,” Jeff Firman, animal science professor at the University of Missouri added. “They may still have shelter available or be put in at night.”
When it comes to raising free-range chickens, Firman said the actual bird aspect is pretty straightforward. “Marketing and cost structure is the real concern. Recognize on a small-scale that feed costs can be quite high and birds will be less efficient as will labor. Thus the cost per bird will be far higher than that of a commercial scale producer.”
Regarding housing for the chickens, there are lots of different methods, but some form of weatherproof housing and a fenced yard should be used.
“Keep in mind the first few weeks will typically require very warm temperatures until the birds feather,” Firman said. “Realize also that predators can be a serious issue and can get into surprisingly tight housing. Layers will need nest boxes to lay eggs in and may need some form of light control to maintain long-term egg production.”
Firman added that for broilers, meat birds, the vaccines at the hatchery would probably be sufficient. “Moving pastures is probably the next line of defense as this keeps disease from building up in the ground. Deworming may be needed in some cases, piperazine/wazine are common, as most pastures will have worms. For layers, more vaccinations are generally required. In many cases you can get by without some of the vaccines on new pasture, but disease problems will become more prevalent over time. Keep in mind that many wild bird species are disease carriers.”
Constant access to fresh water is also a necessity, especially during hot weather. “While birds will get some nutrients from pasture and insects, chickens do not utilize fiber to any extent,” Firman said. “Thus, they typically need a relatively complete ration to grow well.”
According to Susan Watkins, University of Arkansas extension poultry specialist, free-range chickens can be a wonderful family project. “Take time to learn about the breeds before you acquire any birds so that you pick the right breed for your needs,” she recommended. “Some breeds can be rather aggressive and might not be suitable for families with small children.”
