The global egg industry houses approximately 7 billion laying hens, with welfare conditions ranging from barren battery cages still prevalent in many countries to enriched cage-free systems offering substantially better outcomes.
Egg production welfare spans an enormous range. A hen in a barren battery cage — still legal in many countries — cannot spread her wings, dustbathe, perch, or nest. Her welfare is systematically denied across her entire productive life. A hen in a well-managed free-range system with outdoor access, perches, and dust bathing substrate can express most of her behavioral repertoire and live a life recognizable as hen-appropriate. The transition between these two endpoints is the central welfare project of the egg industry, driven by legislation, consumer demand, and food company commitments. Progress is real but uneven and too slow in many markets.