There is a lot of different information to keep in mind when deciding what type and brand of egg to buy when at the supermarket. You should be able to tell from the packaging what type of egg it is that you are buying, and how the birds that laid them have been treated. If in doubt, ask - any responsible store owner should know exactly what sort of eggs they are stocking.
One of the most common things mentioned on egg packaging is 'Free Range'. This refers to the way the chickens that laid the eggs have been allowed to live. There are three main classifications of hatching system: laying cage, barn system, and free range. The laying cage system generally means that the birds are kept caged (often inside sheds) and are fed through trough and drip systems. In terms of animal welfare, this is the least desirable of the three systems.
One of the most common things mentioned on egg packaging is 'Free Range'. This refers to the way the chickens that laid the eggs have been allowed to live. There are three main classifications of hatching system: laying cage, barn system, and free range. The laying cage system generally means that the birds are kept caged (often inside sheds) and are fed through trough and drip systems. In terms of animal welfare, this is the least desirable of the three systems.
The Farm Animal Welfare Council pays close attention to the conditions that the birds are kept in, and has ruled that in order for eggs to truly be 'Free Range' (as so many packages claim), the birds that have laid them must be allowed a certain amount of sunlight and fresh air, and must be free to roam a pen or enclosure of a specific size. Of course, free range eggs are generally more expensive than the less desirable laying cage system eggs, and as such some people simply cannot afford the animal-friendly option. If this is the case, the barn system eggs are a good compromise - they don't have the freedom of free range chickens, but they aren't cooped up in small cages permanently.