Why do people buy caged eggs

On the other hand, they stop hens from participating in natural behavior, such as dust bathing, walking, and foraging. They cannot nest or roost, and they tend not to display signs of comfort such as flapping their wings, stretching, shaking, or wagging their tails. Hens that farmers keep in cages can be at risk of becoming trapped between wires or experiencing foot damage due to overgrown claws. Enriched, or furnished, cages have additional features, such as perches, nesting boxes, or scratching areas.

These cages vary in size but can sometimes hold up to 60 birds. Having access to these additional features means that birds will be more able to engage in natural behavior than those that farmers house in conventional cages.

Cage-free hens can move freely both horizontally and vertically, but they may not have access to outdoor areas. Farmers feed them a natural diet, and they are able to exhibit the natural behaviors that caged hens cannot, such as nesting, roosting, and foraging. Cage-free systems vary greatly. Sometimes, farmers will opt for multitier aviaries, but there are no clear definitions as to what exactly a cage-free system should look like.

The main feature is that cage-free birds have a larger area at their disposal, in which they can move freely and exhibit some of their natural behaviors, which caged hens cannot.

They may not have access to outside space. The American Humane Certified program states that cage-free hens must have a minimum of 1. The main difference between cage-free and free-range eggs is that the latter come from hens that, in addition to the extra space that cage-free birds have, can also access some form of outside area.

However, there are no uniform standards regarding how long they are outside for or what the outside space is like. Food Alliance Certified define free-range eggs as those that come from birds that do not live in cages and have access to natural daylight or a vegetation-covered outdoor area for at least 8 hours per day.

Each bird must have at least 1. The American Humane Certified program states that in order to be considered free-range, each bird needs to have at least The Certified Humane Program , meanwhile, states that free-range hens must have at least 2 square feet of outdoor space that they can access for at least 6 hours per day. How do you like your eggs in the morning? Well, it might depend on where in Australia you happen to live.

Canstar Blue research shows there is a big difference in egg-purchasing preferences across the states, with consumers split over whether to buy free range or cheaper, caged eggs. In light of this, Canstar Blue sought to find out what Australian consumers think — and which type of eggs they prefer to buy. The results were fascinating. Every egg production system in Australia, whether cage, free range , or barn-laid , has its advantages and disadvantages and there are trade-offs between different and sometimes conflicting measures of animal welfare.

For example, increased freedom for hens to exhibit natural behaviours can expose them to greater risks in outdoor environments. While egg farmers use three main farming systems to manage animal welfare, research consistently shows the biggest factor influencing welfare is the quality of farm management and how the hen is cared for.

Some of the images of cage egg farming on the internet show hens in awful living conditions but most of the photos are decades old and many are not from Australian farms. The Australian egg industry has invested half a billion dollars in upgrading the design of cages over the last two decades to improve hen living conditions. Eggs have one of the highest nutrient-to-kilojoule ratios of any food source, containing a high percentage of vitamins and minerals. Importantly, the nutritional value of eggs remains consistent, regardless of whether they are cage, barn-laid, or free range as all hens are fed a grain-based diet.

Cage eggs are the cleanest of the three farming systems as the cages tilt gently backwards so the eggs roll away onto an automatic belt as soon as they are laid. This reduces the need for egg washing and sanitisation. After researching egg farming in Australia, you may like to see a farm for yourself. Australian Eggs invites you to take a virtual tour of a cage egg farm below.

Looking for more? Take a full virtual tour of three different egg farms here. Curious about other forms of egg farming? They do this by getting certified by a regulating body like Humane Farm Animal Care, a nonprofit that ensures animal welfare in production facilities.

Going Certified Humane is putting your money where your mouth is when it comes to labeling, which is important considering all the misleading marketing in the egg world. These hens eat a healthy diet, have access to fresh water, and are allowed to roam as they please. Free-range eggs contain up to a third less cholesterol than conventional supermarket eggs.

A standard egg contains an average of milligrams of cholesterol, while free-range eggs contain an average of milligrams. If cholesterol is a concern for you, free-range eggs are a smart choice. With only 72 calories in a single free-range egg, you can fill up with a hearty, healthy scramble at breakfast without wrecking your MyFitnessPal numbers before you leave for work.