Long-term research into free-range laying hen welfare provides evidence on which management practices most effectively improve hen wellbeing in commercial systems.
Free-range hen welfare research demonstrates that the label free-range does not automatically translate to good welfare outcomes. Whether hens actually benefit from outdoor access depends on how the outdoor area is designed and managed. A poorly designed outdoor area — treeless, exposed, and distant from pop holes — may provide little welfare benefit to most of the flock. The research evidence provides clear guidance on how to design free-range systems that deliver genuine welfare benefit, and this guidance should be incorporated into certification requirements.