New Zealand
Free-Range Laid Eggs

Free-range hens must have access to both a barn environment and to the outdoors during daylight hours.

A free-range egg is laid in a barn environment that enables hens to access the outdoors through “pop holes”. Pop holes must meet certain criteria to ensure that hens have adequate access to the outdoors.

A free-range hen’s barn environment provides shelter and shade from heat or cold, as well as pests and predators. Barn housing and equipment is designed to allow birds to express natural behaviours such as perching, scratching and nesting.

All free-range egg farms must comply with Animal Welfare (Layer Hens) Code of Welfare 2018, which is administered by MPI in New Zealand, and was developed by the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC).

More information

Download the Free-Range information sheet.