Enriched Cages and Colony Eggs
The GOOD news:
Provided the ban is enforced, from 1st January 2012 NO laying hens will be kept in tiny ‘barren’ cages which restrict every aspect of their natural behaviour in the UK.
The BAD news:
Not all EU member states will be ready for the cage ban, and millions of birds could continue to be kept in tiny barren cages next year.
60% of caged eggs in the UK go into the processed food sector, more come into the UK in foreign imports, eg Italian pasta may contain Italian eggs from caged hens. YOU could inadvertently buy eggs from battery caged hens. READ your food labels and ask for products which contain free range eggs, British where possible.
The FUTURE:
The caged system DOES NOT disappear altogether in 2012 – many farmers will use an enriched caged system, producing eggs described on boxes as ‘colony eggs’.
The enriched cage is designed to hold up to 90 birds and does give the hens more freedoms including:
- Potential to nest - one end of the enriched cage has a small nesting area
- Potential to roost - perches 3-4” high run along part of the cagePotential to scratch - a small scratch area is provided with friable matter
- Potential to stretch - the height and width of the cage allows for more freedom of movement
- The enriched cage offers birds an improved environment over the barren cage, allowing them to perform the natural behaviours outlined above.
Where there is a continuing demand for caged eggs, we would rather they are produced in the UK than imported from countries where we may not have control over welfare.
Ultimately, we believe that all laying hens should be given access outdoors and with consumer support we aim to ensure that farmers continue to invest in well run free range systems.
HELP US TO HELP THE FARMERS PRODUCE THE EGGS WE WANT TO EAT
BUY BRITISH FREE RANGE EGGS
