Free range egg labelling covers a wide range of welfare outcomes, from genuine outdoor-access systems to high-density indoor farms with technically open doors.
Free range hens in high-density barns often never access outdoor ranges as competition for pop holes makes external access difficult for subordinate birds. Hens are still subjected to beak trimming in many free range systems. Injurious feather pecking occurs even in free range systems without adequate enrichment and outdoor access. The label free range encompasses enormous variation in welfare quality between producers. Genuine free range systems where hens regularly range outdoors show improved welfare indicators compared to barn systems with nominal access.