Livestock

Laying Hen Colony Cage Welfare and Alternatives

Enriched colony cages replaced barren battery cages in the EU in 2012, but animal welfare organisations and researchers argue they still fail to meet the behavioural needs of laying hens adequately.

Key Facts

Over 40% of UK laying hens are still kept in enriched colony cages
Colony cages provide around 750cm2 per bird, roughly the size of a sheet of A4 paper
Hens in colony cages cannot perform many natural behaviours including dustbathing properly
Free-range systems allow hens access to the outdoors and represent a higher welfare standard

Welfare Considerations

Even in enriched cages, hens cannot perform unrestricted wing flapping, run, or dustbathe in loose substrate. Perches in colony cages are often inadequate for the full flock to use simultaneously. Feather pecking remains prevalent in large commercial flocks regardless of housing system if management is poor. Bone strength is significantly lower in cage-housed hens due to restricted movement, causing fractures during catching and at slaughter.

What You Can Do

Choose free-range or organic eggs to avoid products from colony cage systems
Check restaurant and food service menus for cage-free egg commitments
Support legislative campaigns to ban enriched colony cages entirely
Advocate for retailers and catering firms to transition to cage-free sourcing