Our birds have always had year-round access to pastures with at least 108 square feet of pasture per bird. They’re happier and healthier when they spend time outside, and it allows them to express their natural behaviors, but we don’t force them out there. When the hens first arrive at the farms, we train them to go on pasture. Then every morning when the barn doors are opened, they know they can head out on their own time. The easiest way to understand this is in human terms — we’re happier and healthier when we get time outside, but it would create a lot of stress if someone was forcing us out there. It’s similar for the hens.
