Barn-laid vs free-range eggs, which is better?

Question

The RSPCA (my country's main animal welfare group) endorse two free-range egg farms in the south but endorse considerably more farms that employ the barn-laid system. They've received a lot of criticism for this but claim that barn hens are more protected from the elements and predators and are therefore happier overall. One of these farms actually debeak their hens to prevent them hurting each other. The RSPCA claim it is necessary in this particular case due to the behavior of the flock in question; critics claim the behavior is the result of overcrowding.

I have always bought free-range eggs with the belief that these provide the best conditions for the birds, and I can't help but suspect the RSPCA are doing this to appease egg farms in order to reduce the horrors of battery farming. Are barn hens really in better conditions than free-range chickens?

Answer 1

Your own eggs are better.

They cost less and are WAY FRESHER.

Eggs go bad in about 4 days. The ones in the shop have been on the chooks for 1 day. It takes 2-3 days for the eggs to arrive at the supermarket. By the time you buy the eggs they are 5 days old. To find out if your egg is ok to eat put the egg in a cup full of water. The fresh one should sink the sort of egg will go around in the middle and the rotten one will float at the top.

Answer 2

"free range" can simply mean they are not in individual cages.. but are still in pens.. or indoors under shelter (even in big barns)

personally I keep my own hens, they have a large shed and fully fenced pen ( safe from foxes)

battery hens are HORRID - cruelly over caged birds...

YES the free range eggs are healthier..  and so are the chickens

they often (not always) get a better diet - more variety

and because they have less stress they produce "healthier" eggs

I am a firm beleiver we should all own a few chickens and eat their eggs rather than keep millions in torturous cages.

http://www.gomestic.com/Pets/Unusual-Pet...

Answer 3

free-range eggs are better because the chickens arnt squashed in cages and put through torture so they lay eggs

Answer 4

They taste the same.

Answer 5

Not sure how much this is an answer to your question but I had the same dilemma recently and the only solution I could come to was to actually give up eating eggs altogether and so now I don't eat them anymore.

Like you say, there is harm either way, it's just a question of which causes the least suffering and so I decided to avoid it altogether.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do. At least you're thinking about it, which is more than many people do.

edit: p.s, just googled it and found this.

http://www.goodfoodpages.co.uk/lifestyle...

Really glad you posted this question. Thank You.

42Jeff - That sounds Excellent and I totally agree with you.

Answer 6

Unfortunately I just found out that in order to meet the min. requirement for being "free range", laying hens must have just FIVE minutes a day outside their cages.  I would hardly consider that free range at all!  So I guess it doesn't matter...

Answer 7

Free range eggs

Answer 8

I had chickens on the farm I grew up on. We let ours out every chance we had. The grass and things they would eat made for darker yolks and tastier eggs. Also they were happier and produced more. We pinned them up each evening..They kind of just walked back into the chicken coup on their own at night. On the long summer days they stayed up longer. gathering the stary eggs could be a challenge. Chickens piled up on top of each other and pooping on each others heads doesn't appeal to my sense of healthy.