Outdoor access for broiler chickens offers welfare benefits including space for natural behaviour, but requires appropriate range design and breed to be effective.
Free-range broiler welfare raises the question of whether access to outdoor space constitutes a welfare benefit if few birds actually use it. The answer depends on range quality and bird breed. Bare, exposed ranges used by few birds provide limited welfare benefit despite meeting minimum legal standards. Well-designed ranges with trees, shelter, and diverse vegetation attract more birds, provide foraging opportunity, and deliver the welfare benefits that outdoor access is intended to provide. Breed matters too: slower-growing breeds are more mobile and more likely to use outdoor space, gaining genuine welfare benefit. Free-range labelling is a welfare proxy that depends significantly on the quality of implementation.