Free-range broiler production gives chickens outdoor access that conventional systems deny, but the welfare benefits of range depend critically on whether birds actually use the outdoor space.
Free-range broiler welfare is not guaranteed by outdoor access provision alone - it requires chickens that are both physically able and behaviorally motivated to use the outdoor environment. Conventional fast-growing breeds in free-range systems often remain predominantly indoors due to the locomotor problems associated with their genetics, failing to derive the welfare benefits that free-range certification implies. Genuine free-range welfare requires the combination of slower-growing breed genetics, good range quality with shelter and enrichment, population-day access (not just doors open), and monitoring of actual range use behavior. Certification schemes that verify range use rather than just range provision are more welfare-meaningful.