• My account
  • Cart
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

The Coeur d'Alene Coop

Raising Chickens and Urban Gardening

  • Home
  • About Our Heirlooms
    • About Candace
  • Garden Consulting
  • Shop
    • NEW/RETURNING for 2025
    • NEW! Culinary Planters
    • NEW! Flowers
    • Grown from Organic Seed
    • Heirloom Tomatoes
    • Heirloom Peppers
    • Heirloom Vegetables
    • Cool Season Vegetables
    • Herbs
    • Container/Small Space
    • My Favorites!
  • CdA Coop Blog
    • Gardening
      • Soil and Compost
      • Garden Seed Series
      • Growing Tomatoes Series
      • Growing Garlic Series
    • Backyard Chickens
    • Recipes
    • Garden Glossary
      • How Often to Divide Perennials & Winter Care
      • Q/A Sheet: How to Decide What to Grow in Your Garden
      • Ripe for the Picking: A Quick List of Common Fruit and Vegetables to Ripen On or Off the Vine
      • Vegetable Plant Family Chart
      • Seed Starting Charts
  • Contact Us
You are here: Home / Backyard Chickens / What Is A Natural, Free Range, Free Roaming, Cage Free, Pastured Poultry Egg?

June 17, 2012 By Candace Godwin 2 Comments

What Is A Natural, Free Range, Free Roaming, Cage Free, Pastured Poultry Egg?

I had an interesting and enlightening (albeit short) interaction with a potential customer at Farmer’s Market last Wednesday about the 2nd St. Chicken Ranch eggs.  The customer wanted to know if the eggs were from “free range” chickens.  A valid enough question.  I said no, they lived in a coop with pen…and she walked away.  I was a little stunned at by that reaction.  After all, my girls are within city limits and you can’t exactly “free range” (plus it is against the city ordinance).

I lost that sale (however I did sell all the eggs I took to the Market), but I was reminded of how confusing the trendy food “marketing” terms are and how little consumers know about them.

Labels including organic, natural, free range, free roaming, cage free and pastured poultry are all over egg cartons.  But what, exactly do they mean?  Here’s what the USDA has to say:

Labels Regulated by the USDA

Free Range or Free Roaming:  This label is only regulated for poultry – not eggs.  It requires that the poultry has been allowed access to the outside.  No specific time outside or stocking density is required.  This label does not require 3rd party certification.

Natural: This label is for products that contain no artificial ingredient or added color and is only minimally processed.  The label must explain the use of “natural” such as no artificial colorings or ingredients.  The natural label does not have to meet requirements for feed, antibiotic use or pasture and does not require 3rd party certification.

Organic: The USDA organic seal verifies that producers met animal health and welfare standards, did not use antibiotics or growth hormones, used 100% organic feed, and provided animals with access to the outdoors. This label requires 3rd party certification.

Labels Unregulated by the USDA

Cage Free ChickenCage-Free:  Most commercially produced eggs are from hens that are kept in small cages.  A cage-free label does not guarantee that the bird had access to the outdoors. In addition, this term is not regulated by USDA, and the label does not require third-party certification.

Pastured Poultry:  This term refers to poultry management using a modified free-range system where birds are raised on pasture but provided with shelters that can be moved by hand or tractor. Poultry is often moved daily. Chickens can get up to 20 percent of feed from pasture forage in these systems. This term is not regulated by USDA, and the label does not require third-party certification.

When I think of “free range” chickens, I imagine hens running in a large pasture, happily eating grass and bugs.  Something my girls do get to do — inside their “play-pen.”   The truth is, according to the USDA,  my girls ARE free range, free roaming, natural, cage free and pastured (even if the pasture is a backyard).  I meet the labeling standards.

I won’t be losing any sales in the future and next time someone asks about the free range-ness of my hens, I can say for certain, “yes, they are!”

I will have a limited number of  eggs for sale at the Wednesday Farmer’s Market in downtown Coeur d’Alene, $2 per half dozen, $4 per dozen.

Filed Under: Backyard Chickens Tagged With: egg production, free range chickens, pastured poultry, USDA guidelines

Get Garden Tips & More

« Farmer’s Market Here We Come!
Garlic Scapes – A Simple Pesto Recipe »

Comments

  1. Victoria says

    June 26, 2012 at 10:35 am

    This is a great article, now whenever I have to supplement eggs from my hens I’ll look for the organic label. What has always miffed me is the “fed only veggie” label. If you own chickens you know how ridiculous that is.

    Reply
    • Candace says

      June 26, 2012 at 1:31 pm

      I agree…the labeling system leaves much to be desired and I believe only causes more confusion for the consumer. It’s really marketing – and I understand that, as a marketing professional. But the terms are misleading and often used incorrectly. If you want organic – make sure the label says “organic” – otherwise it may just be the work of a good copywriter (and factory hens)! — Candace

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts from The Coop

  • How To Garden Without Pesticides: Natural Ways to Fight Pests May 2, 2025
  • Heirloom, Hybrid, GM-Oh My! Understanding These Gardening Terms April 18, 2025
  • Budget Gardening Hacks: Grow More for Less with These Simple Tips April 4, 2025

Search Our Plants Here

Shop by Category

Cart

the coop on facebook!

The Coeur d'Alene Coop The Coeur d'Alene Coop is at 2nd Street Chicken Ranch.

7 hours ago

The Coeur d'Alene Coop
Day #3 of plant pick up! Garage: full of plant orders. Greenhouse: full of plant orders. Garden: full of plants to be packed. Nine more days to go. Happy times for everyone! 🌻🌿🍅🌶🫑🥬🫛#thecoeurdalenecoop #heirloomvegetables #growyourownveggies #homegrownisbest #organicgardening ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

the coop on instagram!

The Coeur d Alene Coop

thecoeurdalenecoop

#thecoeurdalenecoop
@thecoeurdalenecoop
Heirloom tomatoes 🍅🍅
Organic gardening 🥕🌶
& Urban chickens! 🐔🐓

Day #3 of plant pick up! Garage: full of plant ord Day #3 of plant pick up! Garage: full of plant orders. Greenhouse: full of plant orders. Garden: full of plants to be packed. Nine more days to go. Happy times for everyone! 🌻🌿🍅🌶🫑🥬🫛

#thecoeurdalenecoop 
#heirloomvegetables 
#growyourownveggies 
#homegrownisbest 
#organicgardening
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Join the Flock!

Sign up to get gardening & chicken keeping tips delivered to your inbox.

Copyright © 2025 The Coeur d'Alene Coop · Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83814 · Privacy Policy · Log in
Website Design: Godwin Marketing Communications LLC