Cage-Free Hen Transition Global | Animal Welfare Hub

Progress and challenges in the global transition to cage-free laying hen production, including corporate commitments and implementation.

Key Facts

Over 2,000 major companies have made cage-free commitments affecting laying hens globally
The EU ban on battery cages has been extended to enriched colony cages by 2027
Corporate commitments without implementation deadlines often fail to deliver welfare change
Cage-free systems require management skill to prevent welfare problems
The global transition to cage-free production is estimated to affect over 700 million hens

Welfare Considerations

The cage-free transition represents one of the most significant scaling welfare improvements in farm animal history. Corporate commitments covering hundreds of millions of hens create supply chain pressure that is driving production system change globally. However, commitment without enforcement, inadequate timelines, and management challenges in cage-free systems all risk undermining welfare gains. Monitoring commitment fulfilment and supporting good cage-free management are equally important.

What You Can Do

Support organisations that track and enforce corporate cage-free commitments
Choose eggs from cage-free or higher welfare systems
Advocate for legally binding cage-free requirements rather than relying on voluntary commitments