What are Free Range Chickens

I would like to explore this idea in more depth. I have dogs (Jack Russell Terriers) and i cannot allow my chickens to free range my yard. I have heard about feeding them scraps and left overs, i really tend to save that we early have any left overs. My chickens are not free range as they cannot forge for their own food, but i do let them once in a while but my dogs go crazy.

Definition of Free-Range is :

Free range is a term which denotes a method of farming husbandry where the animals can roam freely for food, rather than being confined in an enclosure^. On many farms, the outdoors ranging area is fenced, thereby technically making this an enclosure, however, free range systems usually offer the opportunity for extensive locomotion and sunlight prevented by indoor housing systems.

But free range in the USA: 
In the United States, USDA free range regulations currently apply only to poultry and indicate that the animal has been allowed access to the outside. The USDA regulations do not specify the quality or size of the outside range nor the duration of time an animal must have access to the outside.

Our Homestead (Farm)

So i want to post some pics of our critters

Easter Egger (Lays Green Eggs)

Easter Egger (Lays Green Eggs)

Buff Orpington (Brown Eggs)

Making Cheese with goats milk

Make a Cheese Press Here

I will add info as i get it. Im reading up on this now

Homemade Goat Milking Machine Pump

I did alot of looking around for a milking machine for my Nigerian goats. After looking on Ebay found one for $60 and thought hey thats perfect. After reading the feedback and about the tool they used i thought hay, i can make that myself!

Directions and pics are here...... Homemade Goat Milking Machine

Parts List

• 2 x 3/8" IDx 1/4"MIP  nylon hose barb/MIP adapter - from the plumbing aisle of the hardware store
• 2 x  1/4" brass nuts - also hardware store.
• 4' of 1/4" ID (inner diameter) 3/8" OD tubing 
• 1 x 1/4" barbed T which I got at an aquarium supply store but also probably available at a hardware store
• 1 x Mason Jar lid and Screw Band
• 2 x 60 cc tapered tip syringes from a larger feed supply store (big epoxy paint supply stores may also sell these)
• 1 x Manual vacuum pump which we ordered online but may be available from an auto parts store as a brake bleeding pump. Ours is already hose clamped onto a length of tubing, 
• 1 x 1/4" to 1/2" hose clamp, which turned out to be overkill (it's holding the stem of this pump onto the tube. It would only be needed if you planned to be very rough with your milker. Like swing it around your head rough.)

I don't run this pump past 10.  I want to say PSI, but I believe vacuum is measured in either inches or millimeters of mercury.

• Don't forget to wash the udder beforehand and teat dip afterwards, unless the babies will be hitting it immediately.  Their slobber is better teat dip than anything you can buy or make. 
• Homemade udder wash/teat dip recipe:  1 quart of warm water, 1 drop of original blue Dawn dish soap, 1 tsp clorox bleach.  According to Molly at Fias Co Farm, the Dawn and Clorox name brands are important to this recipe.  I think she uses too much bleach, so I dropped it some.

Duck Egg French Toast (Recipe)

4 Duck Eggs and 1cup of lactose milk! (My kids are allergic to cows milk)

makes a half a loaf of the Texas toast (French toast) bread