Farm Animal Welfare

Pasture-Raised Versus Confinement Laying Hens

The welfare differences between pasture-raised and confinement egg production are substantial and well-documented.

Key Facts

Conventional battery cages give hens less space than an A4 sheet of paper per bird
Pasture-raised hens express natural behaviors including dust bathing, foraging, and roosting
Furnished cage hens show intermediate welfare outcomes compared to conventional cages and free range
Keel bone fractures affect up to 80% of hens in aviaries, a welfare concern even in enriched systems
Consumer surveys consistently show willingness to pay a premium for higher-welfare eggs

Welfare Considerations

The welfare benefits of higher-welfare egg systems are real but not absolute. Even free-range systems have welfare issues including keel bone fractures, feather pecking, and outdoor access limitations during disease outbreak periods. However, the step from conventional cages to enriched or pasture systems is associated with measurable improvements in behavioral expression and injury rates.

What You Can Do

Choose certified pasture-raised or Certified Humane eggs over conventional or cage-free options
Advocate for your workplace or institution to adopt higher-welfare egg purchasing policies
Support legislative campaigns to ban conventional battery cages in your jurisdiction