Imagine driving past rural fields and cows and chickens grazing side by side. The idea of free-range and pasture-fed eggs doesn’t necessarily mean that hens are foraging outside freely. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), hens that are raised outdoors or with access to the outdoors lays free-range/pasture-fed eggs (Barnes 2017). 

However, some argue the vagueness of the definition, “it simply implies that a door exists that a farmer could at some point open” to the outside—which could be nothing more than a small and fenced-in area on dirt (Warshaw 2019).  Notably, all egg production systems include an indoor habitat with nest boxes, perches, grain for feeding, and water. There is also no evidence that proves the odd seeds and insects’ free-range hens eat has any impact on their eggs nutritional profile (Australian Eggs 2019). Free-range hens are also more vulnerable to the chicken’s many predators and can be more prone to peck their peer’s feathers, fight, social stress, and even cannibalism as free-range production allows for more hens to a single facility. Free-range hens are also more susceptible to manure-borne diseases and parasites that would require antibiotics to treat (Australian Eggs 2019).   

There are also many benefits to free-range egg production, Australian Eggs reports that free-range hens with more mobility have better bone strength and are able to practice their natural habits such as nesting, foraging, perching, and dust bathing (Australian Eggs 2019). A significant driver of the free-range egg market is the fact that consumers are beginning to prefer food products that feel less industrialized (Bray 2017).  

Most commercial hens are kept for 2-3 years while they are producing the most eggs at this time. Typically, producers will keep a batch of pullets on hand to rotate into production as the older hens retire (Stuttgen). Production poultry breeds typically live for 3-5 years, as egg production can have intense strain on the hen’s small body (Lesley 2021). Both free-range and commercial hens have the same lifespan and production time but can live up to 10 years with predator protection and no genetic issues (Wisherd 2021). Hens in both commercial and free-range settings typically produce up to one egg per day, especially in the spring and summer as the daylight hours are longer. It’s recommended that hens receive 14 hours of light and 10 hours of dark per day, which can be artificially made if hens are free-range (Jacob).  

If I could ask one author a question, I would ask Heather Bray about the impact of animal rights activist groups on the egg production. I would also ask the USDA data-collecting people if non-animal (vegan) egg products are also considered and counted as they are consumed. While I was researching, I saw many images of commercial laying hens that have been pecked at and are sickly-looking, which of course makes me sad for the welfare of animals in production. However, I have to wonder how many of these images are manipulated and mis strewn by animal rights organizations.  I know that animal mistreatment happens, especially on commercial operations, but I also know and have seen firsthand that it’s not as drastic as it’s made out to be. I also wonder about the laws and regulations surrounding laying hen operations. Coming from a poultry-background, mainly roosters, I understand the risks that are associated with raising poultry outside and the hassle of raising them inside, so I believe that as long as animal welfare needs are being met, the eggs should be fine.  

Resources 

Australian Eggs. “What Are Free Range Eggs: Australian Free Range Egg Farming.” Australian Eggs, 13 Aug. 2019, https://www.australianeggs.org.au/farming/free-range-eggs.  

Barnes, Rex. “Eggstra! Eggstra! Learn All about Them.” USDA, 21 Feb. 2017, https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2012/04/06/eggstra-eggstra-learn-all-about-them.  

Bray, Heather J., and Rachel A. Ankeny. “Happy chickens lay tastier eggs: motivations for buying free-range eggs in Australia.” Anthrozoös 30.2 (2017): 213-226. 

Jacob , Jacquie. “How Many Eggs Can a Hen Lay in One Day?” Small and Backyard Poultry, https://poultry.extension.org/articles/poultry-related-youth-programs/how-many-eggs-can-a-chicken-lay-in-one-day/.  

Lesley, Chris. “Home.” Chickens And More, 22 Feb. 2021, https://www.chickensandmore.com/how-long-do-chickens-live/.  

Stuttgen, Sandra. “Life Cycle of a Laying Hen.” UW Extension Livestock, https://livestock.extension.wisc.edu/articles/life-cycle-of-a-laying-hen/.  

Warshaw, Brette. “What’s the Difference between Free-Range, Cage-Free, and Pasture-Raised Eggs?” Eater, Eater, 17 July 2019, https://www.eater.com/2019/7/17/20696498/whats-the-difference-cage-free-free-range-pasture-raised-eggs.  

Wisherd, Bob (“Raising Chickens 101: When Chickens Stop Laying Eggs.” Almanac.com, 22 Sept. 2021, https://www.almanac.com/raising-chickens-101-when-chickens-stop-laying-eggs.