The following review discusses the findings of existing research surrounding the nutritional impact of leaf meals as incorporated in chicken diets, the importance of forages in sustainable poultry production and the capacity of hens to digest high fibre diets. The potential of conventional and/ or outdoor based systems for developing countries, the effects of outdoor production systems on the welfare of laying hens, and methods used in measuring forage intake and the feed items obtained by hens from the outdoor area are also discussed. This review highlights those factors affecting range utilisation, behaviours of free range hens and the recommendations for better range utilisation by laying hens, particularly in the tropics.
