Lisa Serrano

Professor Ludwig
ENGL 101
25 April 2016
Free Range
Many animal rights activists would say that free range is the right choice for all
animals whereas others say that its not as luxurious as it may seem. Free range is when all
types of animals are able to roam freely in a natural habitat instead of living in a cage at a
factory. The ways animals are treated determine the condition of the meat that is produced,
that will be set out for humans to eat. Free range was the most dominant system in the 1920s
before factories decided to take over and take the chickens and many other animals into their
buildings. Factories were able to fatten up animals much faster than farms were able to. This
meant that factories were able to slaughter animals faster, but this also came with a dangerous
price. Problems that can harm any animal produce could be diseases, predators, or harmful
procedures. All these problems could be avoided by promoting free ranged farms who treat
their chickens with care. Consumers need to be more aware of purchasing eggs from free
range farms because it contributes to the human treatment of animals, ensures our food
contains natural components, and ultimately is beneficial to our health.
When chickens are allowed free range they are given the chance to move around in the
fresh air. James Bonner mentions in The Open Range Livestock Industry in Colonial Georgia
Chickens are able to live a normal life where they can interact with other chickens, mate
when needed, and are able to move freely around yards (Bonner, 96). These are better living

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conditions for the chickens whereas factories would stuff groups of chickens into cages where
they are pressed firmly against each other. They are confined into rooms where the air is
polluted with gases from the many machines. Farmers turn towards free range, because the
chickens are able to forage for insects and eat any leftover crops. This is a better choice for
not only the animals but also the eggs that come from these chickens.
An issue with letting chickens roam freely around the yards is their chance of
contracting many diseases. A few common diseases that chickens receive are Avian influenza,
Coccidiosis, and Mareks disease. Avian influenza is a disease among wildlife birds. Its very
rare that humans catch this illness, but it can be dangerous when humans consume meat of a
diseased chicken. Mareks disease is a herpes virus infection that is more dangerous for
humans and animals. It is dangerous because it can cause paralysis and attack the nerves as
well. When a chicken gains any type of disease it contaminates the body, making the
chickens meat inedible. This is a problem for many farmers because they are not able to sell
the meat or any eggs that are laid by the chicken.
To prevent chickens from gaining any diseases, farmers are able to give chickens a
natural diet. Many times, chickens forage for insects lying around or any grains that are left
behind by horses and cattle. Factories that hold chickens mainly have them on a corn fed diet.
This means that chickens are fed only corn because of the large supply. It is also cheap to feed
all their animals the same food rather than buying new products for a specific diet. James
McWilliams states in The Modern Savage When chickens are fed corn everyday for their
whole life, their body starts to gain more fat. When any of the chickens are slaughtered, their

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meat was mainly composed of fat (McWilliams, 53). Chickens are meant to eat plants and
insects, so when they consume the high amounts of corn they arent gaining the right amount
of calories and vitamins their body needs to survive.
When chickens are given a healthy and natural diet, the eggs they produce are healthy
as well. The eggs are made with the right amount of nutrients needed to be consumed by
humans. Natural eggs that come from free range chickens tend to have more omega -3 fatty
acids, vitamin E, less saturated fat, and a third less cholesterol. As stated above, the chickens
that live in factories with any type of disease could produce eggs that are harmful to humans.
Many times the eggs that are created look normal on the outside, but if consumed will lead to
illnesses such as fever and vomiting. These illnesses are treatable, but can be dangerous for
infants, elderly, or anyone with a weak immune system.
Sadly, on free range farms, the farmers tend to eliminate the male chickens after their
sex is confirmed. The reason for this is because they cant lay eggs so theyre not as useful.
Some farms separate their chickens into two groups: those that are meant for meat and egg
producing chickens. Male chickens born in the egg producing group will be trashed because
they arent able to lay eggs, but males born in the meat group will survive. Half of the male
chickens are kept because they are needed to mate with the female chickens to produce for
eggs.
When caring for a free range farm, there is the risk of predators attacking chickens.
Since the chickens are able to roam freely around, there is not much protection for them.
Depending on the area, chickens are prey to a variety of animals such as wolves, foxes, and

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raccoons. Predators are such a problem, because when they attack the chickens it means that
the farmer loses a chance at gaining money. Farmers have fewer chickens that will lay eggs or
that can be supplied for meat.
Although free range farms are meant to keep chickens in a safe and natural
environment, some farms debeak their chickens. When chickens gather into their chicken
coop they tend to become overwhelmed by being crowded together and begin to peck at each
other. The chickens are debeaked so that they wont cause any harm to other chickens. When
chickens are debeaked it means that one-third to two-thirds of their beak is seared off with a
hot plate. Some say that a chickens beak is the same as trimming your finger nails. Turns out,
the tip of a chickens beak is the most sensitive compared to the rest of the beak. The beak
contains blood vessels, pain receptors, and sensory nerves. A website I found mentions Due
to the excruciating pain this causes for chickens, many pass away due to shock
(Debeaking).
In conclusion, free range products have a higher consumer rate. Buyers prefer
products with farms on their labels with the words cage free or organic. Many choose
these products because they understand the fact that these animals were given a chance and
were able to live a natural life. These are chosen over factory-made products because they
spent their lives in a building with no sunlight or fresh air. With factories producing 99% of
what consumers eat, buyers prefer food that is local and organic to maintain a healthy
lifestyle. This is a better choice; because factory produced food traveled miles and was
exposed to any pollution in the air.

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Annotated Bibliography: Free Range
Bonner, James C.. The Open Range Livestock Industry in Colonial Georgia. The Georgia
Review 17.1 (1963): 8592. Web.
"Debeaking Video Shows Standard Practice on Free-Range Egg Farms." Free From Harm.
N.p.,
2013. Web. 22 Apr. 2016.
McWilliams, James E. The Modern Savage: Our Unthinking Decision to Eat Animals. N.p.:
n.p., n.d. Print.
"PETA Prime." PETA Prime CageFree Doesnt Mean CrueltyFree Comments. N.p., 01 Sept.
2010. Web. 13 Apr. 2016. <http://prime.peta.org/2010/09/cage-free-doesnt-meancruelty-free>.