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Right here at Nellie’s, we firmly imagine that hens are happiest once they have free entry to sunshine, recent air, inexperienced grass, yummy grubs, and all the opposite enrichment that the good open air provide. And for that straightforward purpose, we require that every of our companion farms implement the identical “out of doors coverage” for his or her flocks to be able to make sure that each hen has the prospect to stay her greatest, most fulfilling life. So what’s that coverage, anyway? And does free vary actually imply the hens get to spend their days open air? Let’s dig slightly deeper into what out of doors entry means for the hens on Nellie’s Free Vary farms.
What does free vary imply for egg-laying hens?
Though the time period “free vary” is outlined for egg-laying hens by the USDA, these pointers lack element and are much more rigorous when licensed by a third-party like Licensed Humane. All of our farms observe or exceed Licensed Humane’s requirements, which suggests our flocks have each day entry to grassy pastures, are by no means put in cages, and have a minimal of two sq. toes if pasture per hen. As you might already know, this paints fairly a distinct image than that of a cage-free life-style, which is one with none entry to out of doors pastures the place the hens can show pure behaviors like perching, mud bathing, and foraging for bugs and grubs. Evidently, we imagine it is important that hens have entry to the outside.
How usually do free vary hens go outdoors?
Per Licensed Humane’s necessities, all Nellie’s hens are given each day entry, climate allowing, to an uncovered out of doors pasture for at least 6 hours per day throughout daytime. Licensed Humane additionally required that hens have easy accessibility to exits of their coop, permitting multiple hen to make her method open air or again indoors at a time. It also needs to be famous that our farmers by no means power their flocks open air; they put the “free” in free vary by giving freedom of option to each hen.
Do free vary hens have a coop?
It is truly a standard false impression that free vary and even pasture-raised hens spend their complete lives open air! The truth is, Licensed Humane requires all hens to have entry to a heat, appropriately-sized shelter that may shield them from wind, rain, snow, and extreme warmth. And in relation to risks like predators, the most secure place for a flock is indoors. So whereas it may be tempting to let the ladies roam from sunup to sunset, our farmers are at all times cautious to maintain a detailed eye on climate and their environment in case their hens must be ushered again indoors whereas a close-by hawk or excessive heatwave passes.
When ought to free vary hens keep inside?
Although we make sure that our hens have the chance to spend as a lot of the day as doable open air, there are a couple of the explanation why our farmers may carry their hens again inside. For every exception to regular out of doors entry, our farmers log the small print of their resolution and the components that influenced it. Concerns embody:
Temperature
If the skin temperature is under 45 or above 93 levels Fahrenheit, it is most secure to maintain the hens inside the place the local weather is extra average.
Inclement climate
Rain, snow, and standing water can all pose a menace to our hens’ immune system, so on stormy days, it is best to maneuver them to the coop the place it is dry.
Laying time
Most of our hens are accustomed to laying their eggs throughout the early hours of the morning, so our farmers are inclined to preserve them good and comfortable of their coop earlier than sunup. This helps encourage the hens to put eggs of their nests reasonably than within the pasture.
Excessive-risk durations
Throughout high-risk durations the place a illness like Avian Influenza is a recognized hazard for that space, in session with our group of consultants, we might request that our farmers preserve their flocks inside.
Creating areas conducive to enrichment, following probably the most rigorous free vary requirements doable, and placing our hens’ happiness and well being first are just some of the methods we have ensured that you just and your loved ones can at all times belief that you just’re getting the very best eggs on the market. We’re proud to show “free vary” on our cartons, however we’re much more happy with what it means; that our eggs come from hens with the liberty to benefit from the nice open air and all that our pastures have to supply.
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