Eggs from caged hens at an all-time low

This is another major milestone on the way to a cage-free UK, but we’re not there yet. In a year when the Government is considering banning the use of cages for hens, The Humane League UK is urging action at this critical time.

A UK ban would free over 6 million hens from cages which would be a historic win for animal welfare, but the egg industry is also making efforts to oppose the ban.

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Cages inflict misery on hens, and the public is eager to see them banned. Imagine wire walls, hemming you in from all sides; constant commotion, the frustration of other birds, ammonia stinging your eyes. These new numbers suggest that for cages, the undertakers have been hired and the grave dug. Now all the Government needs to do is nail the coffin lid shut. They hold the key that can free hens for good.

~ Cordelia Britton, Head of Programs at The Humane League UK

Polling has found that an overwhelming 94% of the UK public oppose the use of cages for laying hens.

Hens in cages suffer lives of extreme pain, and have little more room to move than an A4 sheet of paper per animal. The cramped conditions make a bird’s natural behaviours, like dust-bathing, perching, roosting, and even stretching their wings difficult or impossible.

This frustration results in higher rates of aggressive pecking among the birds, and higher rates of brittle bones due to lack of exercise.

Farmers can access up to £500,000 in government grants to transition to cage-free systems, undermining claims that a ban would be unworkable.

Major supermarkets including Aldi, Co-op, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, M&S, and Waitrose have already gone fully cage-free for shell eggs, demonstrating that the transition is both achievable and commercially viable.

Additionally California, Czech Republic, Germany, and Denmark have also banned cages for hens, with a potential EU-wide ban on the way.

A decade ago around 50% of hens were still in cages, and supermarkets committing to going cage-free had a massive impact. However, without legislation, smaller retailers and food outlets are likely to continue using caged eggs, ensuring millions of hens remain trapped.

Want to help put a stop to cages for hens? Sign our petition.