Together with our research partners, FAI Farms, we’ve worked on a range enrichment programme to determine the effects that tree cover have on free-range flocks.

Because hens originate from woodland animals they will often avoid open fields and gather under trees for safety. The report, published in 2008, showed that hens living on ranges with greater tree cover experienced improved animal welfare as they were more encouraged to leave the barns and to express natural behaviour. As a result, we now require all farms supplying McDonald’s with free-range eggs to have at least 20% of their ranges planted with tree cover. As of 2021, over half a million trees have been planted on ranges as part of the McDonald’s range enrichment programme for hens.