In our household, we used to eat a *lot* of chicken. I hate to think how many of these creatures we consumed a year and was never permitted to ponder that out loud, under threat of chicken totally disappearing off the table. The best compromise we came up with was to eat free range chicken.

Unfortunately, it is by no means cheaper than "normal" chicken, but given other items we saved on we spent the extra cash to somewhat alleviate our conscience.

The image we generally have in mind when we purchase free range chicken is of happy hens strolling around a lovely field eating and scratching around to their heart's content without a care in the world... until of course they hit the chopping block (that last bit is the part my family doesn't like to dwell on too much).

It turns out the the term "free range" can be rather loosely applied in some countries. The birds may still be de-beaked and while not in cages, only have a very limited area to move around in. They may be crammed into sheds in the thousands and although the birds have access to the outside, it's only the chickens close to the door that can get out.

This close quarters living can cause all sorts of health problems for the chickens. I remember a colleague from years ago who worked on one of these farms telling me his first job of the day was to wander through the barn, picking up all the dead birds, of which there were quite a few, and parts of birds - wings or legs that had fallen off.

On some farms, even if the birds do have external access, it's often to enclosures that are covered in gravel with no plant material or worse still, just mudbaths mixed with old droppings.

For free range egg laying birds, they are often still subject to malnutrition to increase profitability and live in eternal daylight in order to stimulate egg formation. The massive amounts of calcium needed to produce eggs can cause bone weaknesses in these birds.

Before you pay out extra money for your free range chicken and eggs, learn more about the farm they come from. You may be in for a bit of a shock. Criteria that your free range chicken and eggs should meet:

• Clean housing and shelter from the elements
• Protection from predators
• No antibiotic use
• No growth hormones
• Natural foods + addition of vitamins and minerals only as required
• The land must have shade, shelter and palatable, sustainable vegetation
• No mutilation of beaks and claws

Organic poultry

There is another level beyond free range to try and ensure the birds on your table have lived in satisfactory conditions - organic; with the appropriate certifications. These chickens are also free-range, but far slower growing than intensively raised chickens and also slower growing than free range chickens. This usually means fewer health issues. Organic poultry farming forbids the use of growth stimulants, plus there's far greater restrictions on the types of chemicals in the birds' diets and general care. Unfortunately, organic poultry can be rather hard to source; but if you are prepared to buy in bulk, it can be purchased online in some countries for delivery in metropolitan areas.

Slaughter methods

This is a  really difficult aspect. A chicken may lead a very healthy and relatively stress-free life, but the slaughter process can be incredibly traumatic. When I asked the company we used to buy our chickens from about slaughter methods, there was no reply - which wasn't very encouraging.

Probably the most humane slaughtering process is controlled atmosphere killing, which is thankfully starting to gain broader adoption, particularly in the European Union. Through consumer pressure, the uptake of this method could be accelerated in other parts of the world.