About free range

Our chooks get 6 times more space than the national free range standard

Happy hens

With just 1500 hens per hectare, each Sunny Queen Farms free range chook gets 6m2 of space outdoors. That's more than a ping pong table or a king size bed! We provide logs, perches, dust baths and trees to make the outdoors more fun. And all our free range farms are independently audited to the highest standards, so you can be confident our eggs come from happy, well cared for hens.

Our farms

Our chooks get to roam around in beautiful pastures at our free range farms across Australia. A cracking team of farmers, vets and quality experts make it their job to ensure the welfare of our hens is top priority. Take a sticky beak around some of the farms or check out what the hens are up to right now via our live stream Chooktracker®.

Explore our farms Watch Chooktracker®

Cracking recipes

Sunny Queen eggs have been a part of nutritious, homemade meals for generations. Along the way we’ve collected bucket loads of delicious recipes for you to have a crack at.

View recipes

Freerange FAQs

What is Free Range?

Hens have access to outdoor paddocks for a minimum of 8 hours per day and rest safely in barns at night protected from other animals and harsh weather. Food and water are provided and are easily accessible inside the barn. Our Free Range farms are independently audited to ensure compliance with the Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals - Domestic Poultry 4th Edition.

What is Sunny Queen Farms standard on free range outdoor densities? How many hens per hectare?

Sunny Queen Farms free range eggs are laid on farms with a maximum outdoor density of 1500 hens per hectare. This means each chook has, on average, more space than a king size bed when they are out in the paddock.

How can I be sure it's Free Range?

All of our farms are independently audited to ESA Standards to ensure compliance with the Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals - Domestic Poultry 4th Edition. We also regularly visit our farms to ensure they too comply with the Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals, and our own Sunny Queen Farms free range standard.

Some free range egg customers have been unsure about exactly what “free range” means. With a maximum outdoor density of 1500 hens per hectare, we’re proud of our Sunny Queen Free Range farms, so we have developed a webcam to show off our hens and give everyone the ability to see for themselves. No editing. No special effects, just a camera constantly filming the paddocks during daylight hours, showing the hens as they go about their day - Chooktracker

Are your Free Range eggs certified?

Our farms are independently audited to ESA Standard to ensure compliance with the Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals - Domestic Poultry 4th Edition and to our Free Range standard of 1500 hens per hectare.

What do you feed your Free Range hens?

Our hens need a wide variety of nutrients such as carbohydrates, fat, protein, vitamins and minerals. Animal nutritionists ensure the diet the hens have keeps our hens healthy. We do feed them meat meal as part of their diet to ensure they get essential amino acids. We also feed them a range of grains including sorghum, wheat, soy and barley depending on seasonality and availability. As well as this, our hens have constant access to fresh water.

How long are Free Range hens allowed outside during the day?

Sunny Queen’s policy is that the hens have access to outdoor paddocks for a minimum of 8 hours per day, and rest safely in barns at night, protected from other animals and harsh weather.

How do I ask for further information?

For further information contact customer service. Phone: 1300 780 055. Email: info@sunnyqueen.com.au