Free-range egg producers can limit or eliminate injurious pecking, particularly feather pecking, through such strategies as providing environmental enrichment, feeding mash instead of pellets, keeping roosters in with the hens, and arranging nest boxes so hens are not exposed to each other's vents; similar strategies are more restricted or impossible in battery cages.
Free-range egg producers can reduce injurious pecking, especially feather pecking, by implementing methods like providing enrichment, feeding mash instead of pellets, keeping roosters with hens, and arranging nest boxes so hens aren't exposed to each other's vents; these strategies are more limited or impossible in battery cages.