Cage-free

MP announces bill to end cages for UK laying hens

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#BeatricesBill: a huge opportunity to ban this cruel and outdated practice.

Beatrice the hen stands in grass

MP Henry Smith has today announced a Ten Minute Rule Bill on ending cages for laying hens. The bill is named after Beatrice, a hen rescued from a life in a cage by our Animal Welfare Specialist, Mia.

Meet Beatrice the hen. See her story.

Beatrice the rescue hen in a garden foraging.

Today, Beatrice is on the road to recovery, and is getting stronger and healthier with each step. But it wasn't always this way.

Beatrice was raised in a cage, with barely enough room to move or spread her wings. Ammonia filled the air, burning her eyes and throat. Every day was filled with frustration and misery.

She was one of the lucky ones. Beatrice was rescued from her cage and is now living her best life with other rescued hens.

Right now, there are millions of hens in the UK suffering like she did. #BeatricesBill is a big opportunity to change their lives.

A Ten Minute Rule Bill is a way for MPs to introduce a bill to the House of Commons by giving a ten minute speech on the issue, which is then put to a vote by MPs present.

If successful, Beatrice’s Bill will secure numerous benefits, including:

  • Higher welfare standards through ensuring hens have more space to perform natural behaviours such as nesting, foraging and dust bathing.
  • A clear message that the UK Government is serious about animal welfare.
  • Bringing the law in line with the position of UK companies. All major supermarkets have now committed to going cage-free by at least 2025, and many have already made this transition.

We're working closely with Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation on this campaign for hens like Beatrice. Together we are raising awareness of this issue and hope to bring an end to cages for hens.

We are delighted to be working with our Patron Henry Smith MP and The Humane League UK on #BeatricesBill to end cages for egg laying hens.

It is truly heart-breaking to see hens raised in such small spaces, where they have hardly enough room to stretch their wings. We hope that this campaign will shine a light on the sad reality that around 16 million hens at present are being reared in these conditions.

~ Lorraine Platt, Co-Founder of Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation

Caging hens is a cruel and outdated practice, and only legislation can bring it to a complete end. Beatrice’s Bill marks an important step for the UK to become a global leader in animal welfare.

Indeed, seven EU countries and nine US states are already cage-free or have legislative bans in the pipeline, while The European Commission is also developing legislation. It’s clear that it’s time for the UK to take action.

Support Beatrice

Want to support Beatrice in her fight against cages? You can join us today with a regular monthly gift.

Your gift will help animals live better lives and support our fight against cages for hens like Beatrice.

Support Beatrice