The transition away from battery cages toward enriched and cage-free systems is one of the largest ongoing transformations in farmed animal welfare.
The laying hen housing system debate reveals the complexity of welfare tradeoffs. Battery cages prevent many natural behaviors and cause chronic stress but eliminate some of the injuries common in cage-free systems. The welfare consensus now strongly favors cage-free or better systems, recognizing that preventing expression of natural behaviors represents a fundamental welfare failure even when it reduces specific injuries. Advancing welfare in cage-free systems requires addressing keel bone fractures through better perch design, lighting management, and genetic selection. Consumer and corporate commitments to cage-free sourcing have driven substantial industry change globally.