Free-range laying hens require outdoor access that meets their behavioral needs, but the welfare benefit depends critically on range quality, not just its existence.
The welfare value of free-range outdoor access is real but easily overstated. Hens with technically compliant outdoor access but poor range quality - bare, exposed land - may use it rarely, gaining minimal welfare benefit over better-managed indoor systems. Range design that includes trees, shrubs, and perching structures is essential. Hens that use outdoor ranges show more diverse behavior repertoires, lower feather pecking rates, and better bone strength from weight-bearing activity.