Cage Free: Literally just means the hens are not kept in cages. It does not mean that they aren’t packed beak to beak (or sadly debeaked) in an overcrowded barn which puts them at risk for disease transmission, unsanitary living conditions or pecking each other to death.

Free-Range:  This term simply indicates the hens were not in cages and that they had access to outdoors. It does not specify how much access, how long or if it was on cement, dirt or grass. It also doesn’t mean the hens actually took advantage of the access.

Free to Forage:  The hens have been given access to forage outside in grass and dirt. There are no specifications and this term is unregulated.

Pasture Raised:  Means the hens are free to roam on pasture outside most of the day and eat their natural diet of grasses and insects. This term by itself does not have specifications.

Organic:  Hens have been fed certified organic feed, are antibiotic free and cage free with access to outdoor as weather permits.

Hormone Free: Means nothing, all eggs are hormone free since the 50’s when the FDA banned them.

Vegetarian-Fed:  Chickens are naturally omnivores but this ensures their food is not full of animal by-products that could have antibiotics.

Egg Shells color:  Doesn’t make a difference, just depends on the breed of laying hen. They can be white, brown, grey, light blue, light green, pink or speckled.

Animal Welfare Approved (AWA) or Certified Humane:  Look for these stamps on your carton of eggs. These Stamps guarantee that each hen has at least 108 sq. of outdoor space in addition to indoor barn space.

The Bottom Line?

Skip – Conventional and Cage Free

Ok – Free-Range

Better – Pasture-Raised

Best – Pasture Raised with the Animal Welfare Approved or Certified Humane Stamp

Bonus – Find a local farm where you can see for yourself where the hens live and eat!

Eggs get that beautiful orange yolk from consuming a natural diet of grasses and insects when it’s free to forage on pasture. Nutrition quality is also improved with pastured raised hens with higher levels of vitamins A, E and omega-3 fatty acids.