Access to outdoor range is increasingly recognized as a key component of laying hen welfare. Understanding how hens use outdoor spaces informs better free-range management.
Outdoor access is a welfare improvement for laying hens, but the benefits depend heavily on range design and management. Large flocks in poorly designed systems often see most hens unable or unwilling to access outdoor areas due to competition, exposure, and inadequate pop hole density. Enriching outdoor areas with shelters, vegetation, and shade structures increases range use and reduces stress associated with exposure to predators and weather. Hens who do range show improved bone strength from walking on varied terrain and benefit from dust bathing in natural substrate. Producers who invest in range infrastructure see measurable welfare improvements and often better production outcomes.