Home on the (Free-) Range

Tofree range or not to free range—for folks with a flock, that is the question. Several years of experience raising free-range flocks on my organic farm, Mama Tierra, in Bowdoin, Maine, has led to some useful, albeit hard-won, insights. I did some homework and spoke to other flock owners before undertaking this adventure, but mostly I followed the “Just Lay It” approach and learned by doing. It’s a tried-and-true New Englander strategy that, for better and sometimes worse, can have a long, mild—yet consistent—learning curve.

Before deciding to liberate your fowl to freely follow their bliss, here are a few things to consider for a successful