So hard to resist

[Tanizaki]

OK, if what you're saying about US guidlines is correct then the US and UK have wildly different classifications regarding 'free range', although I find the definition you gave as hard to believe. If this is true and 'free range' Chickens are not given room to move about then why do the US people accept this?

Actually, it seems that UK regs are similar to US ones in that the animals simply needs to have access to the outdoors. There is no requirement that the bird animal actually go outside. People think of "free range" as the animals cavorting in the glen, when this is not the case. For example, see this UK publication about free range chickens, which has pictures of free range chicken facilities.

A lot of UK supermakets name the farm the Chickens came from so you can research the place yourself. For example, I know the farm that provides the eggs I buy and their chickens have acres of space to run around in outside. They cost twice the price but the yolks are big, orange and taste fantastic

Frankly, I find this very hard to believe. I cannot imagine that egg hens are given acres of land for their exclusive use.

The UK definitions are below, although the minimum standards still aren't great, they sound far superior to the American ones

Taken from the DEFRA website; (department for Environment, Food and rural affairs)

the birds have had during at least half their lifetime continuous daytime access to open-air runs, comprising an area mainly covered by vegetation, of not less than:

1m² per chicken or guinea fowl (in the case of guinea fowls, open-air runs may be replaced by a perchery having a floor space of at least that of the house and a height of at least 2m, with perches of at least 10 cm length available per bird in total (house and perchery)).

Same as US. In other words, they have "access".

Age at slaughter must be:

Chickens = 56 days or later

I am afraid I don't understand the emphasis you place on age at slaughter.

The feed formula used in the fattening stage contains at least 70% of cereals, and the poultry house must also be provided with pop holes of a combined length at least equal to 4 m per 100m² floor space of the house.

I don't see what the feed has to do with "free range".

 

[theGOOCH]

Macas has been around in Australia for like 6 years. not new at all...

Oh, I'm still on "crikey!" LOL

 

[Typhon]

Actually, it seems that UK regs are similar to US ones in that the animals simply needs to have access to the outdoors. There is no requirement that the bird animal actually go outside.

Lol, to be fair I imagine it's difficult to force a reluctant Chicken to go outside if it doesn't want to

 

[SmithMachine]

Oh, I'm still on "crikey!" LOL

haha...struth is a popular one as well but thats more the aussie puber kinda guy crikey has becoem well known from steave erwin