What is the Difference Between Cage Free and Free Range?

The main difference between cage-free and free-range eggs lies in the living conditions and outdoor access provided to the hens.

Cage-Free Eggs:

• Hens are not kept in cages, but they can still be indoors and often in crowded conditions.
• The term "cage-free" is regulated by the USDA, but it does not specify the space allotted to each hen or require access to natural sunlight.
• Cage-free hens may have the ability to move vertically (to an extent) and engage in some natural behaviors like dust bathing or perching, but they do not have access to natural sunlight and may be exposed to disease and unclean, overcrowded facilities.

Free-Range Eggs:

• Hens have outdoor access, which allows them to display their natural behaviors.
• The term "free-range" is federally regulated, but due to the USDA's lack of detailed guidelines, third-party certifiers are the gold standard when it comes to free-range eggs.
• Free-range hens may still be raised in crowded conditions, and the outdoor area can be tiny.
• The outdoor access provided to free-range hens can vary, and it does not necessarily mean that the hens actually go outdoors or that the outdoor space is more than a small, fenced-in area.

In summary, cage-free eggs come from hens that are not kept in cages but may still be indoors and in crowded conditions, while free-range eggs come from hens that have outdoor access, allowing them to engage in more natural behaviors. However, both cage-free and free-range hens may still be raised in crowded conditions, and the quality of the outdoor access can vary.

Comparative Table: Cage Free vs Free Range

The main difference between cage-free and free-range eggs lies in the living conditions and access to the outdoors provided for the hens. Here are the key differences:

Both cage-free and free-range eggs are considered more humane and ethical than conventional caged eggs. However, it is essential to note that these terms do not guarantee that the hens have continuous, unrestricted outdoor access or that they are raised in the conditions that some consumers might imagine. There are various certification programs and requirements for cage-free and free-range eggs, but none of them provide a consistent definition of what constitutes a cage, cage-free, free-range, or pasture-raised egg.