Yarding

The distinction is that free-range poultry are either totally unfenced, or the fence is so distant that it has little influence on their freedom of movement.

Larger flocks were kept in small houses build on skids, which were dragged periodically to a fresh piece of ground.

The following is typical advice for the successful use of yards in the 1930s and 1940s: All poultrymen should realize that there are no known substitutes for sunshine and young green grass in keeping poultry in the best possible state of health and in promoting growth and maintaining egg production.

In the case of most farm and many commercial flocks, however, the growing stock is reared on range, and the adult birds are given yards or allowed to roam at will.

If the staggering losses among growing chicks and laying birds that occur annually are to be reduced materially, better methods of flock management must be employed.

Bare ground over which the chickens have run for some time, mud puddles, and stagnant water are the chief sources of the spread of diseases, most of which are filth borne....

The mortality that usually occurs in growing and adult stock may be materially reduced by providing the birds with an alternate yarding system.

Free range continued to be used, especially for breeding flocks and for pullets before they reached laying age, because of the lower rate of disease and greater overall health of grass-reared chickens.

He also recommended that shade and a windbreak be provided by a solid fence around the yard, or by other means, such as rows of haybales.

Today, commercial poultry producers generally call yarding free range on their labels.