Farm Animal Welfare

Layer Hen Enriched Colony Cage Welfare

Enriched colony cages were introduced to replace conventional battery cages but continue to restrict natural behaviours and raise significant welfare concerns.

Key Facts

Enriched colony cages provide approximately 750cm2 per hen compared to 550cm2 in conventional cages
Furnished cages include a perch, nest box, and scratch area but natural behaviours remain restricted
Wing spreading, running, and full dust bathing are impossible in enriched colonies
Bone strength is significantly lower in cage-kept hens compared to free-range systems
Many major retailers and food companies have committed to cage-free sourcing by 2025-2030

Welfare Considerations

While enriched colonies improve on conventional cages, they continue to restrict natural behaviours that hens are strongly motivated to perform. Cage-free systems including barn and free-range provide substantially better welfare conditions.

What You Can Do

Choose free-range or barn eggs rather than eggs from caged systems
Support corporate cage-free commitments and check progress on implementation timelines
Advocate for a complete ban on all cage systems for laying hens