Farm Animal Welfare

Poultry Range Quality and Hen Welfare

The quality of the outdoor range available to free-range hens determines how much they actually use it and the welfare benefits they receive.

Key Facts

Up to 80% of free-range hens may rarely use the range if it lacks shade, cover, or vegetation
Perimeter shrubs and structures encourage hens to venture further from pop-holes
Wet or bare ranges increase disease risk and reduce enrichment value
Rotational ranging protects soil and vegetation while maintaining range quality
Range use is positively correlated with hen health, dust bathing, and foraging behavior

Welfare Considerations

The label 'free-range' does not automatically guarantee good welfare. Range quality, shelter, and design are as important as availability in determining whether hens actually benefit from outdoor access.

What You Can Do

Support free-range producers who provide high-quality, vegetated ranges
Ask food companies to report on range quality standards in their supply chains
Choose eggs from farms with independently verified welfare standards