Why do some free range chickens still have hock burns?
A This may be because they are intensively produced free rangers (relatively speaking) – ie they have access to the outdoors but in very large operations they may choose to stay inside and eat from the automated feeders therefore exposing themselves to similar welfare issues as indoor reared birds. It may also be down to choice of breeds – some free range farmers use the same fast growing breed, Ross for example, as intensive farmers. But birds of any breed who are kept in small flocks with plenty of room to range should not have hock burns.
