Egg carton labels can be confusing, especially since they seem like they’re saying the same thing with different words. Cage- free, free-range, and pasture-range all sound like chickens are running around an acre by themselves. In reality, the disparities between Cage-free and range free can make a world of a difference, especially in quality of life. The FDA is responsible for egg regulation, while the USDA inspects egg products, but the labels Free-range and Cage-free are terms regulated by the USDA. It’s important to state that chickens are incredibly smart creatures. They’re self-aware, experience complex emotions like empathy, they can do math, they have good memory, and they like playing games. Humans are quick to cry over wild animals hurt by poachers or hunters, but fail to realize we have also failed our moral responsibility to take care of all the animals on this planet. 

Cage-free: There are no cages in the facility, but this does not mean the chickens go outside. They’re to have access to food, water, and 1.2 square feet per chicken. It sounds like a better alternative to battery cages, but there are more incidents of hen-on-hen violence and even cannibalization. 

Free-range: Farmers are supposed to let the chickens out, and they get two square feet of outdoor access. There’s no real incentive to actually keep the chickens outside, farmers just need some sort of hypothetical outside space. 

Pastured: This term is not regulated by the federal government, which means it can be iffy at times. Cartons with the “Certified Humane” or “Animal Welfare Approved” stamp can be trusted, as each chicken is given 108 square feet of outdoor space. This is the least painful practice for hens. 

In general, stick with cartons with the Certified Humane or Animal Welfare Approved stamp. Some good egg brands are Kirkland from Costco, Vital Farms, Pete & Gerry's Organic, and Safeway. Be sure to double check your egg carton’s labels next time you shop in a supermarket!

Fowl Play in the US

• About 8.5 billion broiler chickens were killed in 2013. 

• Chickens are the only livestock that are in chronic pain for the last 20 percent of their lives.

• It’s commonplace for 20,000 chickens to live in one shed that provides less than one square foot of space for each chicken. 

• 97% of egg-laying hens in the United States are confined to battery cages. 

• On average, each hen has less living space than a standard piece of printer paper.

• Male eggs tend to be thrown away or suffocated to death.

• 380 MILLION HENS are used for eggs in the US.