Animal Production Facts Vs Myths

Myth:

Free-range hens can meet all their nutritional needs through foraging alone.

Fact:
While foraging provides valuable enrichment and some nutrients, it is highly variable and rarely supplies enough protein, energy, calcium, and minerals to support consistent egg production. Supplemental feed of some sort will almost always be necessary to meet hens’ daily nutritional requirements.

Myth:

Supplemental feed means hens aren’t truly free-range.

Fact:
Free-range refers to access to the outdoors and the ability to express natural behaviors. Providing balanced feed supports health and welfare and does not take away from a hen’s ability to forage, scratch, and explore.

Myth:

If hens stop laying, something is wrong.

Fact:
Changes in egg production are often seasonal and influenced by daylight, temperature, and nutrition. A decrease in laying does not necessarily indicate poor health or care.

Myth:

Natural systems should not require any management.

Fact:
Good animal husbandry combines natural behaviors with thoughtful management. Supplemental feeding, shelter, and health monitoring allow hens to thrive while maintaining consistent production.

Myth:

More feed always means more eggs.

Fact:
Egg production depends on a balance of light, temperature, genetics, and nutrition. Overfeeding does not increase laying and can negatively impact hen health.

Balanced nutrition supports healthy hens, natural behaviors, and sustainable egg production—especially in outdoor, free-range systems.

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