Pasture-raised egg systems offer significant welfare improvements but require active management to ensure genuine outdoor access and protection from predators.
Pasture-raised egg production, when genuinely implemented, offers significantly better welfare than cage or even cage-free barn systems. Hens can express natural foraging behaviors, dust bathe in real soil, and experience sunlight and varied environments. However, welfare quality varies enormously even within pasture-raised certification. Predation protection, flock density on pasture, rotation management, and indoor housing quality when hens are inside all affect actual welfare outcomes. Consumer demand for verified pasture-raised eggs can drive genuine improvement.