The global transition away from battery cages for laying hens represents one of the most significant ongoing farm animal welfare reforms, though progress is uneven across markets.
Battery cages prevent almost all natural behavior including wing spreading, dust bathing, nesting, and perching, causing chronic frustration over the entire laying life. The EU transition demonstrated that industry can adapt to cage-free systems without catastrophic disruption when given adequate transition time. Cage-free systems require better management to control feather pecking and provide adequate resources for all birds simultaneously. The welfare hierarchy runs: conventional cages < enriched cages < cage-free indoor < pasture access, with pasture systems providing the most behavioral opportunity. Consumer purchasing choices in markets with labeling have driven significant voluntary transitions.