Major egg producer and processor, Sunny Queen, has committed to an outdoor density of only 1500 hens per hectare for its free range egg farms.
It's a bold move for a large scale egg producer, given that most are currently free-range farming at 10,000.
Free Range eggs account for almost 41 percent share of total eggs in supermarkets, and consumer advocate, Choice, has been campaiging strongly for more consistency around free-range stocking densities.
State, territory and federal ministers responsible for consumer affairs are also deciding whether to create more regulatory structure around free-range claims.
Sunny Queen said it will now be the only major free range egg brand that can claim an outdoor density of 1500 hens per hectare when they are out in the paddock.
The Queensland-based company said it wants to cut through the confusion and make it easier for consumers.
Sunny Queen Australia MD John O’Hara said the problem at the moment is that consumers may not be getting what they think they are buying.
“There have been a lot of conflicting opinions around different densities and definitions for free range. Consumers want more clarity so they know what they are buying,” he said.
“In essence, each Sunny Queen Farms free range chook has more space outside than a king size bed.
“When consumers buy Sunny Queen Farms Free Range eggs, they can be confident they are buying free range eggs laid by hens that have access to the outdoors for at least eight hours a day where they can forage and roam freely with no more than 1500 hens in a hectare.
“We give consumers access to a live webcam at the farms so they can see first-hand the chooks roaming around outside. We call it our Chooktracker,” O’Hara said.
