Different egg production systems from conventional cages to pasture range have distinct welfare profiles, and understanding these differences helps consumers make informed choices.
Egg production welfare exists on a spectrum, not a binary between good and bad. Conventional battery cages prevent most natural behaviors and cause bone weakness from inactivity. Enriched cages improve slightly but remain inadequate. Cage-free barn systems allow movement but introduce keel bone fractures and injurious pecking risks. Free-range and pasture systems provide the most opportunities for natural behavior but require good management to deliver welfare benefits. Certification with on-farm auditing is more reliable than label claims alone.