Over the past few years, chicken meat has become very popular with users simply because they contain less fat than pork or beef. Besides, they are also more reasonably priced. As a result, when you think about the chicken farm, you usually imagine a place where there is plenty of room with no fences or rules. This allows chickens to roam and move freely, and they are also treated better than caged ones.
Below you’ll find all you need to know about the production of fresh eggs.
All about Caged Chicken and Commercial Eggs
Caged chicken are known to live in tight and inconvenient conditions. They are kept in small cages, which prevent them from healthy growth and natural development. As a rule, every cage is only 67 square inches, which is not sufficient for the birds to walk freely, have a rest, and spread their wings. The usual conditions of traditionally raised chickens are known to be not enough for their wellbeing and healthy growth.
Owing to the restrictive environment, the caged hens are not able to display the natural behaviors that can make their living more comfortable and healthy. Traditionally raised poultry are unable to nest properly, just because the cages restrict their movement and do not provide sufficient room for natural growth.
Certain egg providers also keep their chickens in specially equipped cages. These cages are usually furnished and have such equipment as:
- Nesting boxes;
- Perches;
- Scratching spaces, etc.
They all vary in size and can accommodate not more than 60 birds in total. By contrast to traditional cages, the equipped ones offer more comfortable conditions to chickens. This is supposed to make them healthier and keep the egg quality at a high level.
Main Differences between Caged and Cage Free Environments
Unlike the caged environments, cage-free ones have proper living conditions that are all more open and do not restrict the free movement of chickens. There are different types of such fully equipped systems, but what remains common is that they provide enough room for walking, laying eggs in nests, and spreading the wings. The birds have full access to outdoor activities. However, certain farms do not provide such an opportunity. They only give freedom to walk within the hen cage area.
In contrast to the confined conditions offered by caged environments, cage-free chicken egg farms offer greater freedom to poultry and are all certified to provide the top-quality services and products. The certificates are usually granted by the special agency known as the US Department of Agriculture. This implies that cage-free farms produce eggs in areas that have unrestricted access to food and water. Besides, the chickens have full freedom to walk within the cages when laying eggs.