Barn production is the second most common egg system in the UK. Understanding its welfare advantages and limitations compared to free range and cage systems helps inform consumer choices.
Barn production represents a welfare improvement over conventional or enriched cages in several important dimensions: hens can walk freely on litter, dust bathe, perch, and use nest boxes — behaviours entirely or severely restricted in cage systems. However, barn systems are not equivalent to free range: the absence of outdoor access means hens cannot forage on pasture, experience natural daylight patterns, or satisfy their environmental exploration motivation. The welfare standing of barn production depends heavily on management quality — well-managed barn systems with good litter, appropriate light, and competent health monitoring can provide good welfare, while poorly managed barn systems may have higher welfare problems than some free range operations.