The global transition away from battery cages represents one of the largest animal welfare reforms in history.
The battery cage caused immense suffering to billions of hens across decades of industrial farming. The cage-free transition represents real progress — hens can move, perch, and engage in dust-bathing behaviors impossible in cages. However, cage-free systems still confine large numbers of birds in complex social environments that can lead to feather pecking and other problems. Higher welfare systems with outdoor access remain the gold standard.