Worldwide, hundreds of millions of egg-laying hens are confined in small, wire enclosures known as battery cages.

Battery cages are so cramped that the hens are unable to perform many important natural behaviors, including walking, perching, dust bathing, nesting, or even fully stretching their wings. They suffer psychological stress as well as numerous physical harms, including bone weakness and breakage, feather loss, and diseases.

Standard industry practices, such as slicing off parts of beaks without painkillers and manipulating the hens’ laying cycles by starving them, cause the birds significant pain.

There are more humane production systems that do not use cages, including cage-free, free-range and organic. There are also many vegetarian alternatives to consuming eggs.

Learn more

• Read about HSI’s work to eliminate battery cages.
• Learn how to reduce animal suffering at every meal with our Guide to Meat-Free Meals.