A Win for the Hens!

By: Isabelle Munsell

In 1970, the United States produced an estimated 65 billion eggs annually, increasing to an estimated 110 billion eggs a year in 2023. Until about the 1960s, our eggs mainly came from hens that roamed around farms or backyards. However, this quickly shifted to battery cage systems as flock size grew in response to consumer demand. These battery cage systems provide a single hen with about 67 square inches to live their life–less than the size of a piece of printer paper. The cages measure only 15 inches tall and are enclosed by mesh wiring. As a result, the hens are unable to stand, spread their wings, or move around. Their restricted confinement results in the spread of feces and contaminated water, leading to numerous health issues for the hens, including musculoskeletal weaknesses, cannibalistic tendencies, and diseases. Similarly, these conditions cause psychological frustration and deprivation of animal welfare. 

 For countries like the Netherlands and Switzerland, during the 1980s and 1990s, cage-free movements surged. Hens that live in cage-free operations are no longer confined by mesh wires; instead, they live their life in an indoor open space. Thus, this allows the hens to move about the space and frees them from the physical and mental anguish of battery cages. This paved the way for similar movements in other countries including, the United States. Due to scientific and veterinary research, in 1999, the United Egg Producers (UEP) conducted an independent Scientific Advisory Committee for Animal Welfare to conduct research on appropriate standards for hen well-being. Based on their findings, in 2002, the UEP instituted certified guidelines for battery-caged hens. In 2006, due to consumer demand, the UEP instituted certified guidelines for cage-free hens–though the majority of hatcheries were not cage-free. As more studies were conducted and their findings published, consumers became more aware of the issues battery-caged hens face and the option for cage-free operations. An estimated 65% of people believe that corporations should purchase more humane eggs, dairy, and meat products. This shift in consumer expectations has created a demand for cage-free eggs–causing farmers to transition and corporations to take responsibility. 

 In response, through voting initiatives, states like Arizona, California, Colorado, and more have implemented cage-free laws. Specifically, in 2020, Colorado voters passed a cage-free law, HB20-1343, set to take effect in 2023. Beginning January 1, 2025, every egg sold from a facility with more than 3,000 hens in Colorado must be cage-free and comply with the following cage-free standards: (1) hens must be able to roam around freely within the barn; (2) exhibit natural behaviors (perches, scratch areas, nesting boxes, and dust-bathing areas); and (3) farm workers must be able to care for the hens while standing in the hens’ usable space. Accordingly, all farms selling eggs in Colorado will be audited annually to ensure that farmers comply with the efforts and standards of the law. 

 As more consumers encourage states to establish cage-free laws, the majority of poultry hatcheries will become cage-free instead of battery-caged, as seen in the European Union, where consumer action led to the use of cages in farming practices being phased out and banned. Many opposing parties point to the fact that the price of eggs will soar as a result or that there is a higher level of mortality in cage-free hatcheries than in battery-caged operations. However, although the transition will increase prices at the supermarket, as many as 63% of Americans said they would be willing to pay more. Moreover, the higher mortality rate arguments are founded on early research after the transition from battery-caged to cage-free operations where managers were not as experienced and were still adjusting to the switch. In fact, new studies indicate that cage-free mortality rates are just as high as battery-caged operations, suggesting that with time, mortality rates decline. Mortality rates are not the only indicator of overall health–rather, cage-free hatcheries free the hens of their pain and suffering while allowing them to exhibit their natural behaviors. While the push for cage-free hatcheries continues throughout the country, Colorado hens can celebrate this win!