The global transition away from conventional battery cages toward cage-free egg production represents one of the largest welfare improvements in farm animal history.
The cage-free transition represents a genuine and significant welfare improvement for hundreds of millions of laying hens globally. The ability to walk, perch, nest and dustbathe addresses fundamental behavioural needs that were completely denied in battery cages. However, the transition is not without challenges - poorly managed cage-free systems can have high mortality from pecking, disease and smothering. Success requires investment in stockmanship, good environmental design, beak management approaches, and regular welfare monitoring. The transition continues to progress, though many corporate commitments have been delayed or rolled back under cost pressures.