Laying Hen Welfare

There are more than 300 million laying hens in the European Union, around three quarters of whom are currently housed in battery cages.

Chickens are complex creatures and display a wide range of behaviours. Some of these behaviours are particularly important for hen welfare such as nest-building, dustbathing and perching. They also need to stretch their wings and exercise.

Hens reared in barren battery cages in the European Union spend their 13-month laying cycle in small barren cages with several other birds, stacked in rows several tiers high, in large windowless sheds.

They have too little space to exercise adequately and cannot fully stretch their wings. There is no litter in which to dustbathe, no way to build a nest and no perch. Because of their breed modern laying hens are often much more prone to osteoporosis and bone fractures – a condition made worse by lack of exercise.

The EU is set to ban barren battery cages in 2012 due to public pressure and scientific evidence showing they’re bad for laying hen welfare. Although ‘enriched’ cages will be allowed after 2012, they still do not fully meet hens’ behavioural needs.

That’s why we’re celebrating cage-free egg sourcing. Hens in cage-free systems (organic, free-range or barn systems) have a greater chance of fulfilling their needs. They have more space to perch, nest, exercise, dustbathe and forage. Some of the systems with the best welfare potential, such as Sainsbury’s Woodland Eggs, provide outdoor access and tree cover which encourages hens to range and feel safe from aerial predators.

For a detailed analysis of the scientific evidence comparing the welfare implications of caged versus cage-free systems, look at our short scientific briefing or download our latest report.

 

'Housing systems should provide the possibility for hens to carry out activities which are behavioural priorities….[A]ll systems for housing hens should provide sufficient space for walking, wing-flapping, and other activities necessary to maintain bone-strength and minimise risks of fracture. Certain behaviours, notably wing flapping and flying, are rarely or never observed in cages, even at low stocking densities… it seems that they are prevented by spatial restriction, even at allowances that exceed the current recommendation.' European Commission’s Scientific Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW)