Farm Animals

Battery Cage Phase-Out: Progress and the Road Ahead

The global transition away from battery cages for laying hens represents one of the largest animal welfare policy shifts in history — with hundreds of millions of animals benefiting from improved conditions.

Key Facts

The EU banned conventional battery cages in 2012 — approximately 300 million hens affected
California Proposition 12 (2018) bans battery cage eggs from sale, including imports
Over 2,000 food companies have made cage-free commitments globally
Some countries still have no restrictions on battery cage use
Cage-free systems present their own welfare challenges: keel bone fractures, feather pecking, greater disease risk

Welfare Considerations

Battery cages cause bone weakness, feather damage from wire contact, and total inability to perform natural behaviors. The transition to cage-free is unambiguously positive for welfare on balance. But it is not sufficient — keel bone fractures, feather pecking, and poor litter quality in cage-free barns require active management to maintain genuinely improved welfare.

What You Can Do

Choose cage-free or free-range eggs certified by welfare schemes with audit requirements
Support companies meeting their cage-free commitments on schedule
Advocate for welfare standards within cage-free systems to address new problems
Donate to Animal Advocacy International cage-free campaign monitoring