Free-range egg production: its implications for hen welfare

Abstract

Free-range laying hen housing systems are prevalent in Australia and perceived by consumers to provide greater opportunities for the expression of natural behaviour resulting in higher hen welfare. However, all housing systems have both benefits and risks and scientific evidence is needed on the welfare outcomes of free-range systems. In this review, the scientific literature is summarised from the past 10 years, from research conducted within Australia or internationally with brown laying-hen strains kept in free-range systems. It compiles information on range use by laying hens, hen behaviour while on the range, factors that affect range use, and impacts of ranging on hen health and other aspects of welfare. Novel insights have come from the use of radio-frequency identification systems that allow tracking of individual hens and have shown that the majority of hens access the range with multiple visits across the day, but a small proportion of hens within most flocks choose to remain indoors. Hens also vary in which areas of the range they use, and provision of natural or man-made shelters can increase both range access and range distribution. Hens spend most of their time foraging while outdoors, but the types and frequencies of behaviours vary depending on the resources available and other factors. Range access can be linked to health benefits such as improved plumage condition and reduced footpad dermatitis but there are also health risks associated with free-range systems such as greater susceptibility to disease (e.g. spotty liver disease), heat stress, predation, and potentially parasites in comparison to loose or cage housing systems. Design of the range area, indoor shed, management practices and rearing environments can all influence how hens utilise free-range housing systems. Further research is crucially needed on the impact of ranging on hen welfare in variable Australian climatic conditions, encompassing intense heat and sunlight as well as cooler or wet environments.

Perception of Animal Welfare in Laying Hens and Willingness-to-Pay of Eggs of Consumers in Santiago, Chile

“…This is similar to results in European countries [4,11], or Mexico [14]. Interestingly, the current scientific evidence seems to point out that free-range or cage-free production system impose a greater welfare risk (diseases, environmental harness) than those in cage and more intensified system [6,15]. There have been increasing reports of outbreaks of food transmitted diseases such as salmonellosis related to the consumption of eggs from free-range or cage-free systems [16,17].…”

“…Several studies have shown that public perception is that animals in free-range or cage-free egg production systems have better animal welfare than those in more intensive systems [4] [5]. Some studies have shown that cage-free or free-range hens may be subjected to poorer welfare and health [6][7][8][9]. Also, in an increasing global human population, cagefree or free-range production system seems unsustainable [10,11].…”

How can the research on chicken cognition improve chicken welfare: a perspective review

“…However, even when the most favourable conditions are offered, chickens vary highly in the use of the range (Larsen et al 2017;Taylor et al 2017aTaylor et al , 2017bCampbell et al 2019a). Different ranging behaviour patterns are linked to different welfare consequences, either positive or negative, and need to be further understood (Bari et al 2020a(Bari et al , 2020bCampbell et al 2020a). The second welfare issue covered in this review is the feather pecking and cannibalism in laying hens, two of the most prevalent behavioural problems in laying hen flocks worldwide.…”

Relationships Between Rearing Enrichments, Range Use, and an Environmental Stressor for Free-Range Laying Hen Welfare

“…Consumers believe that fresh air and outdoor access for birds in the freerange system improve hen welfare (3). However, laying hens demonstrate marked individual dissimilarities in range use when provided with outdoor access, which may result in individual differences in welfare (8). Outdoor access and time spent ranging, a higher proportion of hens ranging, or distance of ranging by free-range hens may result in some welfare benefits to the birds.…”