Do Free Range Chickens Lay Fewer Eggs?
This study examined the effects of allowing chickens used for their eggs space to move in a manner considered to be “free-range.” The levels of their egg production was monitored; authors found that allowing chickens access to the outdoors and space to move resulted in a lower egg yield.
The ranging behavior of 272 laying hens was monitored with electronic monitoring devices for 28 laying periods. The more the hens spent time ranging, the lower their egg yield. The authors suggest farmers producing “free-range” eggs should engage in the selective breeding of chickens that will be less likely to have “ranging” behaviors (i.e. utilize the door allowing outside access).