Recently released statistics reveal that merely 14 per cent of eggs purchased in Britain over the past three months have been from caged hens, as consumers increasingly opt for more humane alternatives.
The animal welfare organization, The Humane League UK, has welcomed this development but cautions that without legislative support, progress may falter. Government ministers are considering a ban on caged hens, a move that is facing resistance from the industry.
Implementing a ban could potentially release six million hens from their cages, representing a significant step forward for animal welfare according to the charity. The British Government has previously shown interest in banning cages as part of its animal welfare strategy.
Dust-bathing
Cordelia Britton, who leads programmes at The Humane League UK, stated: “Cages cause suffering to hens, and the public wants to see them eliminated.
“Imagine being confined by wire walls on all sides, surrounded by constant noise and the irritation of other birds, with ammonia burning your eyes.
“These recent figures suggest that the end for cages is near. The government just needs to finalize the decision. They have the power to permanently liberate hens.”
Surveys indicate that an overwhelming 94 per cent of the UK public are against using cages for laying hens.
Hens kept in cages endure severe discomfort, with each having scarcely more room to move than an A4 sheet of paper. Such confined conditions restrict natural behaviors like dust-bathing, perching, roosting, and even stretching their wings.
Trapped
This lack of freedom leads to increased instances of aggressive pecking among hens and more brittle bones due to inactivity. Farmers can access up to £500,000 in government grants to transition to cage-free systems, challenging the argument that a ban is unfeasible.
Leading supermarkets such as Aldi, Co-op, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, M&S, and Waitrose have already eliminated cage-produced eggs, showing that the shift is both practical and economically sound.
Similarly, regions like California, Czech Republic, Germany, and Denmark have prohibited cages for hens, with an EU-wide ban potentially forthcoming.
A decade ago, approximately 50 per cent of hens were kept in cages. However, commitments from supermarkets to transition to cage-free systems have drastically reduced those numbers.
Britton concluded: “Without legislative action, smaller retailers and food outlets may persist in using caged eggs, keeping millions of hens confined.”
This Author
Brendan Montague is an editor of The Ecologist.
