Free range eggs. Free range eggs in an cardboard egg box. Eggs are a good source of protein, minerals and vitamins but also contain high levels of cholesterol and saturated fat. Free range eggs are laid by hens which are allowed to roam an enclosure at will, rather than being enclosed in a small cage. Production of free range eggs requires more labour and land. This means that the eggs are more expensive than those produced at a factory farm. However, many consumers are prepared to pay extra because of their concerns about animal welfare. In order to appeal to those concerns, free range egg boxes are usually clearly labelled as such.