Free-range egg production varies enormously in welfare quality, with stocking density, range quality, and housing design determining whether free-range hens actually experience substantially better welfare than enriched cage systems.
The free-range label signals housing type but not welfare outcome. A free-range operation with high indoor stocking density, poor pop hole design, and bare compacted outdoor range may deliver lower welfare than a well-managed enriched cage system. Conversely, a free-range system with appropriate stocking density, good range quality, and regular hen access to outdoor areas represents genuinely superior welfare. The consumer assumption that free-range automatically means better welfare is exploited by low-compliance operations.