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Cruel Cages: Hens suffering on British egg farm

Dear the Right Hon. the Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park, Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs),

We, the undersigned, join Animal Equality in calling for a ban on keeping hens used for their eggs in cages in the UK.

As you may have seen, a recent investigation carried out by Animal Equality exposed a ‘quality assured’ British egg farm confining hundreds of thousands of hens in abhorrent conditions.

Hens in cages today suffer a miserable existence crammed into overcrowded, barren, wire-floored confinement they are barely afforded the space of an A4 piece of paper.

Such appalling conditions clearly have significant and disturbing ramifications for the animals, causing serious physical and psychological issues. Many hens shown in Animal Equality’s footage were suffering from severe feather loss – some were nearly bald. Others showed signs of painful hernias and red, raw skin.

Whilst ‘conventional’ cages were banned in Britain years ago, so-called ‘enriched’ cages – which bear a striking resemblance to those that have been outlawed for failing to meet hens’ basic welfare needs – are still permitted. Latest statistics show that over 40% of hens in the UK spend their entire lives in crowded cages. This is heartbreaking and outrageous.

We call ourselves a nation of animal lovers, so how can we allow cruel cages to continue?

In May 2019 the ‘End the Cage Age’ parliamentary petition amassed overwhelming public support, reaching over 100,000 signatures.

In March 2020 Defra responded, stating that it was “examining the future use of cages for all laying hens”.

In October 2020 Animal Equality released footage showing the devastating impact of cages on hens.

The time has come for us to ban cages for hens.

We, the undersigned, call on you to act now and without delay.

Thank you for taking action to help hens!

We need to fix this broken system. Please share our petition and help us spread the word about the cruelty that our investigation exposed.

Thank you for your support! Your actions are making a huge difference for farmed animals.

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Over 40% of hens in the UK are currently crammed into cages and locked away for life. This cruel confinement cannot continue. SIGN NOW!

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Egg Farm Exposé

Animal Equality’s investigation into Kinswood Eggs farm in West Sussex discovered young chicks and hens packed into overcrowded cages. Stacked four tiers high in gigantic sheds, this facility holds hundreds of thousands of hens every year. With less space than an A4 piece of paper each, these birds suffer extremely, both physically and psychologically. These scenes were captured on a quality assured, ‘Laid in Britain’ certified egg farm.

Undercover investigation in British egg farm

Kinswood Eggs forces chicks into cages from a very young age – they are just days old when they enter the farm. All aspects of the chicks’ lives are closely controlled in order to minimise costs and maximise egg size.

Undercover investigation in British egg farm

Hens are packed into in extremely overcrowded cages, with as many as 100 birds in a single cage. The hens receive less space than an A4 piece of paper each. They struggle to move around or stretch their wings.

Undercover investigation in British egg farm

Due to the poor and stressful housing conditions, many hens suffer from severe feather loss – some are nearly bald. Other hens show signs of painful hernias and red, raw skin.

Undercover investigation in British egg farm

These birds spend 85 weeks trapped inside bare, metal cages, before they are taken to slaughter. Kinswood Eggs fails to afford them even the most basic of provisions. The hens are not given adequate ‘enrichment’ as the law requires, preventing them from carrying out certain natural behaviours.

Undercover investigation in British egg farm

Decaying carcasses are left to rot in cages amongst the flocks of living birds.

Undercover investigation in British egg farm

Chickens aren’t the only animals living in these gigantic sheds. Animal Equality investigators also found mice, maggots and flies in these filthy, unhygienic conditions.

These chickens were grossly crowded, in a barren environment devoid of virtually any environmental enrichment, and unable to exercise key […] natural behaviours. Such conditions cause chronic stress.

Professor Andrew Knight
University of Winchester

Ban Brutal Cages

Companies like to paint a picture of happy hens lovingly laying eggs for us to eat, yet they fail to add that 41% of hens in the UK are kept in cages.

As a nation of animal lovers, we must demand that this unacceptable treatment of animals comes to a close.

A petition calling to ‘End the Cage Age’ – led by Compassion in World Farming – garnered support from over 100,000 British citizens. This call to ban cages for all farmed animals is supported by Animal Equality and many fellow animal protection organisations. In March 2020 Defra responded, stating that it was “examining the future use of cages for all laying hens”. Whilst we are pleased to see this progress, hens need actions, not words.

Cruel cages must be banned, without delay.

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Sign our petition to find out how you can change this broken system.