Myths “Cracked” – Is It Better to Raise Hens Indoors?

Myth: It’s better to raise hens outside like farmers used to do.

Myth Cracked: The truth is – raising hens indoors is better for the birds and for consumers who want safe, nutritious eggs.

When Joe Hudson, the co-founder of Burnbrae Farms, began raising chickens and selling their eggs in the 1940s, all of his birds were raised outdoors. That was the norm back then. But soon, he and other egg farmers realized that life for a hen living outside wasn’t ideal.

With harsh Canadian weather extremes, nature’s predators and endemic diseases, in the 1940’s more birds would get sick and die when they were raised outdoors. Eggs would also get damaged more easily or lost altogether, since hens would sometimes lay their eggs outside. These eggs pose a challenge for food safety because of the increased risk of cracking and being soiled by dirt and manure. There was more hen pecking (as is typical in larger flocks) where some hens aggressively peck others to try and establish dominance.

Over the years, the Hudsons―guided by evolving poultry science and best practices―began building barns to house hens indoors. These barns provided a healthier (for the birds and for us), safer (read: predator free), [JM1] and more comfortable (climate-controlled) environment.

One housing system that became popular during this period was conventional housing. Housed in small enclosures in groups of five or six, birds could easily be monitored and cared for by farmers and veterinarians, had continuous access to food and water, and did not get sick as often. With the smaller social groups, hens weren’t as aggressive because they could quickly establish and easily maintain their natural dominance hierarchies. Also, eggs laid in these barns were also much safer to eat because they rolled out and were collected from clean, dry, manure-free egg belts.

As someone who lives and breathes poultry behaviour every day, I can tell you that hens like to be sheltered. It helps them to feel safe and secure. You might be surprised to learn that when hens housed indoors are given regular access to the outdoors, a majority don’t take advantage. Those that do venture outside stay close to barn entrances and don’t stay outside for long. Have you heard of Henny Penny?  Hens really do think the sky is falling if they go outside. They truly are “chicken!”

Indoor Housing Today

The commitment to animal care at Burnbrae Farms remains as strong today as it was over 80 years ago when Joe Hudson started the family egg farm. We continue to improve what we do by incorporating the latest research on housing―along with our own daily experiences―to ensure we provide the highest standards of animal care regardless of housing type. All our birds have continuous access to nutritious feed and water and are monitored daily by trained caretakers (or as one person put it: our “chicken tenders”).

We are also committed to providing consumer choice in the grocery store. That’s why we offer eggs from hens raised in a variety of housing styles. While we learned about conventional above, ( which will be phased out by 2036 ), here’s the scoop on our other indoor housing types – enriched colony and cage-free run (also known as free run):

Enriched Colony: Enriched colony housing offers many benefits for the birds, caretakers, consumers and our environment. This modern housing is becoming the favored type of housing – and for good reason. Enriched colony barns have larger enclosures for groups of 16 to 60 birds and offer enrichments like perches and nesting areas, and scratch pads for the hens to indulge in their natural instinct to dust bathe. Hen pecking is minimized and eggs are cleaner as they roll onto conveyor belts or are collected by hand. It’s easier for caretakers and veterinarians to monitor bird health. The environment is better for farm workers, too, with less dust and ammonia generated by manure. You might be surprised to learn enriched colony housing has a lower carbon footprint, compared to cage-free. Eggs from this type of housing system are more affordable, too, as hens are easier to manage and there is less hen mortality.

Cage-Free: What we call free run, this type of housing allows hens to forage, take short flights, and move between levels by flying or walking on ladders. These open concept barns are equipped with nests and perches. Flooring can be made of slats or dust and straw, which enables hens to dust bathe. This can also be a detriment, however, as dust bathing can decrease the air quality in the barn for hens and farm workers. Having larger groups of hens in the open space can also lead to more aggressive pecking order, where hens peck and injure each other, and piling, where birds pile on top of one another. Both can lead to more injuries, higher mortality rates and birds producing fewer eggs. In addition, when birds are allowed to fly, they are more prone to injury.

Enriched colony and cage-free housing have been approved by the National Farm Animal Care Council , whose committee of animal welfare experts have concluded that both provide good welfare for laying hens.

A Commitment That Crosses Generations

There is much to consider with the tradeoffs and benefits of each type of housing, but you can rest assured knowing that at Burnbrae Farms, every hen, every day receives the best possible care from our people, guided by science-based standards and a spirit of continuous improvement.

The truth is, keeping hens indoors provides many benefits to keeping the birds safe, protected and healthy. And healthy hens mean a safe, nutritious product for egg lovers across Canada.

Michelle Hunniford

National Animal Care Specialst, Burnbrae Farms