Farm Animals

Battery Cage Hens: The Case for Reform

Conventional battery cages for laying hens represent one of the most numerically significant animal welfare concerns in modern agriculture.

Key Facts

Approximately 300 million hens in the US are still housed in conventional battery cages
Each hen in a battery cage may have less space than a sheet of paper
The EU banned conventional battery cages in 2012 but enriched cages remain legal
Hens are highly motivated to perform natural behaviors including dustbathing and perching
Bone fractures from osteoporosis are endemic in battery cage systems

Welfare Considerations

Battery cages physically prevent hens from performing nearly every natural behavior: spreading wings, walking, dustbathing, perching, or nest building. The result is chronic frustration, bone loss from calcium depletion, and high rates of injury. Enriched cages provide more space but still fail to meet behavioral needs. Only cage-free and pasture systems meaningfully improve welfare.

What You Can Do

Buy only cage-free, free-range, or Certified Humane eggs
Ask restaurants and food service companies about their egg sourcing policies
Support ballot initiatives and legislation banning battery cages
Reduce egg consumption or substitute plant-based alternatives