The welfare of laying hens depends on housing system, stocking density, and management. Understanding the differences between systems helps consumers make informed choices.
Laying hen welfare varies significantly between systems. Colony cage hens cannot perform many natural behaviours including wing flapping, foraging, and dust bathing in meaningful ways. Free range hens have access to outdoor range but can experience high mortality from predation and respiratory disease if range management is poor. The welfare of individual hens also depends heavily on flock management, lighting programmes, and beak trimming practices. Consumers who choose free range eggs are generally choosing better welfare, but certification schemes provide stronger guarantees than simple labelling.