Government consultations: Why they matter – and why the hen cage consultation could impact millions of lives
The UK is taking a major step towards improving animal welfare. Today, the Government opened a public consultation on the use of cages for hens used for their eggs. If you care about ending animal suffering, the next eight weeks are a rare opportunity to make your voice heard.
The UK Government has recently published its Animal Welfare Strategy for England, setting out headline commitments on how it says it will impact the lives of farmed animals. One of the most significant signals is its intention to transition away from cage systems for hens.
Here is an important distinction to keep in mind: the Animal Welfare Strategy is the destination – the headline promise. The consultation is the map. This is where the Government decides the details that determine what actually happens: what is covered, how quickly change happens, what exemptions are allowed, and how the rules are enforced.
It’s all well and good to make pledges on paper, but now it’s up to us to make sure these promises become policies!
What is a public consultation?
A public consultation is the Government asking the public, experts, and organisations to respond to specific proposals before decisions are finalised. In our analogy, this is where the Government asks which route on the map is the most appropriate, efficient, and timely to reach their destination.
It is not simply a box-ticking exercise. Consultations help shape the final policy and create an official record of the evidence and public support for change.
Public consultations on animal welfare give citizens the power to influence government policy and protect farmed animals.
It’s an empowering thought that simply from the comfort of our own home we can dedicate typically just 10-20 minutes of our time and, collectively, impact millions of animals trapped in factory farms and slaughterhouses. This is people power influencing policy at its best!
In practice, consultations often decide:
- What the reform covers, and what it leaves out
- How long the transition will take
- How the rules will be enforced
- Whether meaningful protections are built from the start
Why consultations matter
Government officials exist to represent us and as animal lovers we need to use our voices to speak up as loudly and proudly for farmed animals, who are so often forgotten, neglected, and hidden from public view.
Consultations are one of the most impactful ways that we can amplify the experiences of farmed animals and demand better for those trapped in these cruel systems.
They are also where big promises can become practical policy. The headline is easy. The detail is where progress is won or lost.
If people respond in large numbers, with authentic responses, it helps show decision-makers that animal protection is not a niche issue. It is a mainstream expectation. It also strengthens the case for meaningful reform when the Government is weighing up competing pressures.
Why cages are cruel
Hens are intelligent, curious animals. They are motivated by instinct to perch, nest, forage, and dust bathe.
However, cages restrict their movement and prevent hens from carrying out basic natural behaviours. Even ‘enriched’ cages still keep birds behind bars. Confinement is the core problem, and it cannot be ‘fixed’ by minor alterations or changes.
Currently, millions of hens in the UK spend their entire lives in cages so small they cannot spread their wings.
We should always remember that cage-free is far from cruelty-free – even outside of cages, hens used for their eggs and meat live miserable lives – but getting them out of such extreme confinement is a critical step towards the kinder world we all dream of and will meaningfully impact millions of animals trapped in cages so small they can’t even spread their wings.
Why this consultation matters so much
This consultation has the potential to impact millions of animals.
If the Government gets this reform right, it could be one of the most meaningful changes hens experience in a generation. Factory farms are still merciless places – these animals will continue to suffer needlessly when delicious plant-based alternatives exist – but we have an opportunity here to end one of the cruellest practices and we must make the most of it.
The outcome of this consultation will depend, in part, on the choices made during the consultation: strong timelines, clear definitions, minimal exemptions, and credible enforcement.
What you can do
The consultation is open now and we will soon share with you a simple guide to help you take part.
The most important thing is to respond in your own words. A short, personal response is often more persuasive than a long template. Don’t worry, you don’t need to be an expert in the area, all you need to know is the truth: hens suffer miserably in confinement and cruel cages must go.
This is a real opportunity for you to contribute your voice and be part of a potentially landmark change for hens.
If you would like some further guidance on how to respond, we will send you everything you need to get started – just click the button below.
Anastasios Chalas
Policy & Advocacy Specialist
protect chickens
Chickens are among the most abused land animals on the planet. But you hold the power to change this! Choose plant-based to protect chickens from a life of suffering.
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