Which Chicken is Better? Pasture Raised vs Organic vs Free Range
In 2018 roughly 10 million people or about 3% of the total U.S. households, decided to purchase backyard chickens and raise them for meat or eggs.
Some would claim this is because of the geopolitical concerns about food prices and possible shortages, but there is a much simpler explanation.
Home-raised organic chicken and eggs can be a healthier option as consumers don’t have to wonder what the chicken was fed and how it was treated.
For people who do not have the time or energy to constantly tend to backyard chickens, there is the challenge of visiting the local grocers and trying to make sense of all the different labels.
How do you know what cage-free means? What type of chicken is best for your family? What about organic vs. pasture-raised chicken?
Let’s go over a few details and help you uncover what type of chicken will provide the best nutritional value.
Health & Environmental Issues with Conventional Chicken
For years we happily devoured all kinds of chicken products, completely unaware of their living conditions.
It wasn’t until news stories started popping up about factory farming and chickens being packed into pretty gross housing situations at an industrial level that we started paying a bit more attention to the quality of this essential protein.
These large chicken farms do not consider the overall health of the bird. The goal is to grow them as quickly as possible with all the meat necessary for slaughter or to have them pumping out as many eggs as the market demands.
Unfortunately, that can mean giving them low-quality food to make them fatter and horrible living conditions to meet the quantity demands.
When you consider annual consumption of chicken meat per capita in the U.S. more than doubled between 1965 and 2012, there is a lot of pressure on chicken farmers to make quotas.
That means corners are going to be cut to maintain profits. That is why you often hear about stories on industrial chicken farms related to:
Fecal waste washing into local rivers and affecting wildlife.
Contamination of drinking water from waste contamination seeping into the groundwater.
Emissions of ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and poultry dust containing bacteria into the air around chicken farming operations.
The use of antibiotics being used to promote growth in chickens. While the FDA banned steroids and hormones in chickens in the 1950s, it’s reported that antibiotics are extremely effective at promoting growth and that chickens are twice as big as they were 60 years ago.
Poor quality of life results in the mistreatment of animals.
And plenty more.
That is why many people prefer to seek out chicken sourced from healthier places that care more for the overall quality of their animals rather than factory farming. Let's explore what healthier chicken looks like.
What is the Difference Between Pasture-Raised Chicken, Organic Chicken, Free Range Chicken, & Cage Free Chicken?
What is Pasture-Raised Chicken?
Pastured chicken is a variety that is raised outdoors, with access to fresh air and lots of room to roam around.
The big difference between pasture-raised and organic chicken is that organic chicken doesn't necessarily go outside. They may still be raised in large warehouses where they are packed tightly together.
Besides the benefit of these animals being able to move around and experience the world instead of being cooped so closely together, there are significant health benefits for humans, including:
Reduced levels of salmonella bacteria (a cause of food poisoning) compared to chickens raised in a warehouse setting.
Lower levels of E Coli bacteria. A study published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that pasture-raised chicken had higher levels of healthy fats, including omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin A and E, which can help reduce inflammation in your body and improve overall heart health.
Less antibiotic-resistant genes than conventionally farmed chicken breeds
Besides owning your own backyard chickens, this is one of the best version of chickens you can currently get on the market. It gives our feathered friends as much space and the ability to forage for delicious bugs, worms, or anything else they would like to eat.
What is Organic Chicken?
Organic chickens are raised with a different set of standards than other chickens.
They're not given antibiotics, hormones, or genetically modified feed. Instead, the feed they get is organic, and the air and water they use are also organic (meaning that no chemicals or fertilizers were used in the process).
They have access to fresh air and sunlight as well. The animals can't be overcrowded either.
There must be at least one square foot of space per bird.
Because all these standards are in place for organic chicken production, it tends to cost more than conventional chicken production methods do.
In addition to this higher cost, there are some environmental benefits like less pollution generated and better treatment of animals overall.
That has a positive effect on the surrounding geographical areas of an organic chicken farm.
To be labeled as “organic,” the chicken must meet standards issued by the USDA and not have anything synthetic in the supply chain. Eggs from organic chickens are significantly healthier than conventional chickens.
What is Free-Range Chicken?
Free-range chicken, as you might have guessed, is a type of chicken meat that comes from chickens raised on farms with access to both indoor and outdoor living conditions. According to the USDA, "free-range poultry farming allows for chickens to roam outside for an undefined period of time each day."
While it's not exactly clear how long the chickens must be let out each day, we do know that there must be at least two square feet of outdoor space per bird. The exact type of outdoor space provided—barns, porches, etc.—is not restricted by law.
In addition to this minimum requirement, free-range chickens are also allowed to roam outdoors freely and cannot be raised in cages.
The problem here is how this definition is worded. Two square feet per bird is not what any of us would consider really “free-range.”
There are some larger chicken farms that are using the free-range label a bit loosely or providing an outdoor area that is primarily concrete instead of an open pasture full of nutritious bugs. There is also no rule about what kind of feed they are getting.
What is Cage-Free?
This is a common phrase you’ll see on egg cartons! All this means that the chicken is not kept in a battery cage.
A battery cage is the small wire box used to keep laying hens on industrial farms.
It's essentially a small crate that keeps the chickens from moving around. However, being free from these cramped quarters doesn't mean they have a lot of space to roam around outside.
Though chickens are sometimes referred to as "free-range" if they have access to outdoor areas, there's no official definition of "cage-free."
Technically, this may apply to any chicken that isn't in a crate but still lives in tight quarters with other animals and has no access to pasture or sunlight. So you could call this "cage-free," but it wouldn't be ideal either for your health or for animal welfare!
Many of the same environmental concerns of conventional chickens are still present with cage-free chickens. That is why organic vs. pasture-raised chickens is a bit moot if you still go with the cage-free option.
Are there Third-Party Certifications for Chicken?
Marketing agencies have wholeheartedly embraced all of these different terms to boost prices and labeling. This is rapidly confusing consumer trust because most people do not know the difference between cage-free or organic vs. pasture-raised chickens.
That leads to someone buying a cage-free chicken thinking they are getting the same quality as pasture-raised.
Luckily there are organizations that do the work for us. They go and check these farms to ensure a chicken pasture-raised truly is getting the nutrition from outdoor farms, or something organic is free from synthetic food.
If you want to know whether your chicken was organic or pasture-raised, consider researching and looking for these labels at the store:
Buy Chicken at Your Local Farmer's Market
It's also important to acknowledge that there are a lot of small farms that do not have the time and resources to get these third party certifications, but do use organic, free range, and humane practices.
Buying from you local farmers market is a great way to support a small family farm and be able to talk to somebody about the farming practices to further your knowledge about the kind of chicken you are buying.
Where to Buy Organic Chicken, Free Range, & Cage Free Chicken?
If you're looking for some easy ways to get organic and pasture raised chicken. Here are some socially responsible brands meat brands to check out.
This post does contain some affiliate links which means The Honest Consumer may receive a commission if you decided to purchase. Our commission is at no additional expense to you!
Crowd Cow's Organic Free Range Chicken
Crowd Cow works with farmers, fishermen, and producers who implement sustainable practices such as regenerative agriculture.
Their handpicked and taste-tested products are free from antibiotics and their eco-friendly box and packaging is made from recyclable and compostable materials.
Crowd Cow chicken products feature organic free-range whole chicken , chicken wings, chicken thighs, chicken tenders, and more.
Their high quality chicken ranges from $6-$45. Use my referral link for a $25 discount off your first order with Crowd Cow. The discount will be automatically applied at check out.
Good Chop’s Humanely Raised Organic Chicken
Good Chop is on a mission to bring people an online butcher they can trust. They pledge to bring customers quality meat and seafood.
Good Chop partners with family farmers and independent ranchers who share our concern for animal welfare and sustainable practices. They handle their animals compassionately and humanely, with sufficient space, shelter, water, and a diet free of antibiotics and added hormones.
Good Chop has a range of organic chicken products including organic chicken breasts, drumsticks, wings, and thighs.
Rastelli's Organic Chicken
Starting as a butcher shop in 1976, Rastelli’s has since expanded, now also offering seafood alongside their premium meats.
Their products are free from antibiotics, hormones, and steroids. Rastelli's organic chicken products feature organic chicken breast and wings ranging from $40-$60 per pack.
Misfit Market More Affordable Organic Chicken & Reducing Food Waste
Misfits Market is dedicated to making affordable, high-quality food more accessible while helping break the cycle of food waste.
Misfits Market partners with grocery stores and farmers to save surplus or “misfit” food from ending up in landfills.
The food is then available for conscious consumers to purchase at a reduced price. Misfits Market primarily focuses on organic food, but does have some conventional foods too.
They’re a great option for finding more affordable pasture raised and organic chicken.
What is the Best Choice When Grocery Shopping for Chicken?
So you’re standing in the chicken aisle at your local grocery store, staring at a wall of labels like “Organic,” “Free Range,” and “Pasture Raised.” Which bird should you choose?
When it comes to chicken shopping, choosing organic is always better than “free-range” or even “cage-free.” If you're able to purchase organic chicken then pick that, however, organic farming practices and labor tends to cost more so there is usually a higher price point for organic meat.
If you're unable to purchase organic then consider looking for pasture raised or free range. And when it comes to eggs, studies have shown that pasture-raised hens lay eggs with more vitamins and healthy fats.
We also know that birds who spend their lives on pasture are generally treated much better than birds raised on factory farms.
The very best option is a chicken that has been fed organic feed and is pasture-raised. This will provide you with the most nutritious meal and eggs free from negative health impacts such as low quality feed and antibiotics that industrial farmers like to use.
The battle for good quality food is only going to get harder the more producers are forced to cut corners to save a few bucks.
Spending a few dollars more on your food does make a significant difference in your health because you are getting a more natural source of food.
Of course, if you do have the space and time, backyard chickens are a great way to go as well! You can have free eggs every morning! Happy shopping...or farming!
MEET THE AUTHOR
Emily Waddell is the founder of The Honest Consumer. She has always been passionate about business for good and has a Bachelor degree in Social Entrepreneurship. She currently lives in Seattle where she practices imperfect sustainability. When she’s not writing, Emily enjoys supporting small businesses, clean eating, ethical fashion, and practicing slow living.
This post does contain some affiliate links which means The Honest Consumer may receive a commission if you decided to purchase. Our commission is at no additional expense to you!