Cage-free Eggs

The term "cage-free" refers to hens that are not confined to battery cages, allowing them more freedom to move about. However, this doesn't necessarily mean they live in an idyllic farm setting. They might still be housed indoors in crowded conditions.

As for the presence of roosters, most commercial egg-laying operations, including cage-free systems, typically do not include roosters. There's no need for a rooster to be present for a hen to lay eggs. Hens will lay eggs without fertilization. The roosters are necessary only if the eggs are intended to hatch into chicks.

In most commercial operations, male chicks are separated and culled shortly after hatching because they don't lay eggs and are not the breed used for meat production (egg-laying breeds differ from meat breeds). This is a controversial practice in the industry.

So, in general, you wouldn't expect to find roosters in cage-free egg-laying operations. However, the situation might be different on smaller or non-commercial farms, and roosters could be present.