Free range chicken and eggs, is it worth the extra cash if you're on a tight budget?

[mamadiva]

Since watching all the programs about barn chickens etc, it's made me think abit more about how they live

Would you say free range is worththe extra few qui? I'm ona very tiht budget but figure if I spend say £8 on a free range chicken I could probably spin it out for 2 meals. Maybe roast chicken and chicken fried rice or pasta type stuff where it's okay to usescraps.

Does anyone else do this and does it taste better or is it just the ethics of it?

Anyone in Somerset? I have found 2 large free range chickens for £10!

I either buy free range or go without, tbh. It is about the taste but also an ethical (guilt based) decision. If I eat an animal I want to feel it had a nice life before reaching my plate.

In Lidl yesterday I noticed FR chickens for £3.98. Not a bad size either.

I've got little enough to splash out on super quality food but always get free range chicken and pork

Get whole chicken and de-bone yourself - it's much cheaper than buying breast meat or even thigh weight for weight

don't drop your standards ... just do an extra vege meal or two per week

I'll happily sell you my free range organic eggs cheaply, to cover their food, I have so many at the moment, my chickens are laying really well!

See you if you can find any farm gate sales in your area, ie, people with chickens who have a little stall by their gate. Before I got my chickens I used to pay 70 - 90p for half a dozen free range eggs this way.

I don't personally think it tastes any better, but buy it for the ethical reasons. We jsut don't eat as much meat. I bought two packs of chicken thighs/drumsticks at the weekend, and made a massive stew packed out with veg and that will go three meals for £6 worth of meat.

pigs worry me, as the labelling is never as clear on pig based products as to whether the meat is ethically raised.

we've also found some lovely farm shops. One the best ones chickens flapping around all over the place as we drive in, and have to be careful not to run them over. Truely free range, huge birds and reasonably priced too.

LOL Ali, not sure if eggs will mail well

Where are you?

I don't buy chicken at all, but always buy free range eggs, and always have done even since being a total pauper student. I don't really know what non-free range eggs taste like (although I suppose have eaten them in stuff like shop bought mayonnaise).