Transition Cage Systems for Laying Hens: Welfare Assessment

Furnished or enriched cages represent a partial improvement over conventional battery cages, but welfare assessments reveal important limitations in meeting hen behavioral needs.

Key Facts

EU conventional battery cages were banned in 2012; furnished cages allow 750 cm2 per bird
Furnished cages provide perches, nest boxes, and scratch pads but in limited configurations
Keel bone fracture prevalence in furnished cages remains above 50% in many studies
Dustbathing behavior in furnished cages is severely restricted compared to barn systems
Feather pecking rates in furnished cages are lower than in some high-density barn systems

Welfare Considerations

Furnished cages occupy a contested position in laying hen welfare science. While they improve on battery cages by providing nesting areas and perches, the physical constraints still prevent full expression of key behaviors. Hens cannot dustbathe effectively, social dynamics in small cage groups can be intense, and injury rates from keel bone fractures remain a serious concern. Welfare scientists broadly recommend cage-free barn or free-range systems as providing superior outcomes, though management quality in cage-free systems varies widely.

What You Can Do

Choose eggs certified cage-free, free-range, or pasture-raised rather than furnished-cage products
Support corporate pledges to go cage-free by purchasing from committed brands
Advocate for national legislation requiring cage-free systems on defined timelines
Reduce egg consumption or substitute plant-based alternatives where possible