Farm Animals

Welfare of Caged Laying Hens Worldwide

Despite significant progress in some regions, billions of laying hens worldwide remain confined in conventional battery cages that prevent virtually all natural behavior.

Key Facts

About 6 billion laying hens produce eggs globally
Battery cages typically allow less than one sheet of paper of space per bird
Cage-free systems are required or committed to by many major food companies
California Proposition 2 and Proposition 12 have set national precedents
Hens are intelligent birds with social hierarchies, memory, and emotional lives

Welfare Considerations

Battery cage confinement is one of the most pervasive welfare crises in the world, affecting billions of animals who cannot walk, spread their wings, or engage in natural behaviors. Legislative progress is accelerating but billions of hens still live in these systems.

What You Can Do

Buy only cage-free or pasture-raised eggs
Advocate for cage-free or pasture-raised standards in your state and country
Support food companies committing to 100% cage-free egg supply chains
Reduce egg consumption or switch to plant-based alternatives