What is the difference between barn raised and free range eggs?

Question

The barn raised eggs from the same manufacturer have the RSPCA stamp of approval - the free range eggs do not? Why?

PS: I know caged hen eggs are bad! - I dont buy them and won't. I am not going to become vegan! Please answer the specific question - dont give me your idealogical rant

No, not highly strung just want to make an informed choice about the eggs I will buy - the carton says "The hens have litter in which to dust bathe, space to flap their wings, stretch and socialise, nests in which to lay their eggs, and adequate perch space. They have constant access to fresh water and feed and are protected from the elements and predators" - This sounds better definately than the caged hen eggs that are comonly sold. BUT I would have thought the "free range hens" would be even better off than this. SO WHY does the RSPCA support "barn laid eggs", but not "free range eggs"

Thanks for the info so far
I am in australia
RSPCA : royal society for protection against cruelt to animals

Answer 1

Approvals are not necessarily based on objective facts. If the manufacturer was concerned that customers would think that
caged hens are the same as barn raised then the manufacturer may seek to get a "humane" society's approval
to counter the caged hen idea. If customers already approve
of free range then there is no need to get free range approved by RSCPA

Answer 2

Barn Raised Chicken

Answer 3

Free range chickens are supposed to be able to walk around and have a nice life; however, that is probably most likely not the case.

If you choose to continue to eat eggs, it will probably be a food you will have to feel guilt about. Unless you have a nice little farm near you that you can drive up to and get a nice basket of eggs and see happy little chickens running around, the chickens whose eggs you eat are going to be suffering chickens. (Some people do live near these nice little farms.)

The best you can do is to write down a list of all the different *free range* and *barn raised* companies, and research them individually to look for the good and bad to find the best option.
Good luck

Here is what the Vegetarian Society says about the stamp of approval. I didn't read through it, so maybe it is good.
http://www.freedomeggs.co.uk/standards.shtm

Answer 4

The U.S. Department of Agriculture requires that chickens raised for their meat have access to the outdoors in order to receive the free-range certification. Free-range chicken eggs, however, have no legal definition in the United States. Likewise, free-range egg producers have no common standard on what the term means. Many egg farmers sell their eggs as free range merely because their cages are 2 or 3 inches above average size, or there is a window in the shed.

Either way hormones/ antibiotics can be used!

I sell my eggs for 3.00 a pack love you conscious eaters!!!!!

Answer 5

Its a good question and its about how the animals are treated and they are raised free roaming or in a barn usually in a cage. Free Roaming are usually healthier and the eggs ae better for you.

Answer 6

No rants, just websites. I googled on the phrase: free range eggs

http://www.vegsource.com/jo/qa/qaeggs.htm (this is only 1 of many I found that way)

There really IS no such thing as a free range chicken.

Answer 7

Semantics

Answer 8

well as we all know the barns may use hormones or something similar to make the hens lay more eggs in a short period of time than the ones in a ranch wich are natural, so the difference is that in one u can find all the natural nutrients of the raw egg and in the other one u can find that and something extra the can b hormones or something else like that

Answer 9

the free range eggs can come and go as they please. they are free to run a muck and create havoc. where as the barn eggs are punished and can't go anywhere or do anything.