Barn eggs

Queensland currently has three barn-housed egg farms. Barn eggs are produced under special conditions and to strict quality standards.

All barn egg farms are accredited by the RSPCA.

Barn hens are housed on deep litter in secure, weatherproof sheds. While they are provided with ample water, feed, ventilation, space and nesting boxes in accordance with the Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals — Domestic Farm (4th Edition), they do not range out of doors.

Eggs are laid in clean, dry nest boxes.

Barn eggs currently represent less than four per cent of the State's total egg production.

Free range eggs

Queensland currently has 33 free range egg farms located from Cooktown to the New South Wales border. These farms currently house around 120,000 birds which, on average, lay one egg per day.

Free range egg farms are approved by the Free Range Poultry Association of Queensland (FRPA of QLD) and the system is approved by Animal Liberation of Queensland.

The FRPA of QLD monitors these farms to ensure that the Association's strict guidelines are maintained.

Free range hens must be allowed to range freely and must not be confined to sheds during daylight hours.

All eggs are laid in clean, dry nesting boxes.

All accredited farms use the FRPA of QLD logo on their egg cartons.

Free range eggs currently represent around eight per cent of the State's total egg production.

Organic eggs come from free-range hens.

Organic eggs

Organic eggs are laid by free range, organically farmed hens.

Hens are housed and managed in accordance with strict organic principles on a farm that is certified by a National organic certification body, the Organic Food Chain.

The hens are fed on organic grains sourced from the home farm and organic grain producers.

Vegetarian eggs

In Queensland, approximately 3,000 hens are raised on a vegetarian diet containing absolutely no animal products.

Hens are fed a complex blend of grains, soya beans, essential vitamins and minerals.

Because hens naturally eat ground worms and other animal products, hens producing vegetarian eggs must be housed in cages to maintain control over their dietary intake.

This unique diet maintains a healthy flock, producing first quality eggs.

top