How to add your voice to end cages for hens in the UK
No matter the country you live in, you can help hens in the UK. Tell the UK Government it’s time to end one of the cruelest farming practices—the extreme confinement of hens.
Your voice could help free millions of hens from cages in just 15 minutes. But this opportunity is only available until March 9.
Quick tip for the open text boxes:
We have built a tool to make the open text questions easier. Each question includes a ready-to-use example answer, plus a button to generate a different version.
You can copy and paste, edit, or write your own answer entirely. Your own voice is powerful, so even a few personal edits can make a big difference.
Key message to include where relevant:
Ending cages is vital, as it is one of the cruellest abuses hens suffer in the UK. Although cage-free does not mean cruelty-free, this single action would protect millions of hens continuing to suffer in extreme confinement.
The best action that we can take as individuals is to leave eggs and all other animal products off our plates, but we must not forget the animals still trapped in the system.
Know what you’re talking about:
Rest assured, you certainly don’t need to be an expert in policy, cage farm systems, or animal agriculture – all you need to know is that your action today could help end the suffering of millions of hens trapped in outdated cruel cages.
We recommend that you watch two of our UK egg farm exposés to see for yourself what these systems look like and remember who you’re fighting for.
Time needed:
We expect this consultation will take around 10-20 minutes to complete and will impact around seven million hens annually. Time well spent, don’t you think?!
Guidance for answers
8. Do you consider there to be positive welfare outcomes from banning the use of cages for laying hens (including pullets and breeder layers)? If so, what are they? Please select all that apply and leave blank if none apply.
Suggested selections:
- Improved physical wellbeing
- Improved expression of natural behaviours
- Improved choice over movement and environment
- Improved mental wellbeing
Policy proposal
11.a) On 1 January 2027, there should be a ban on the installation of new enriched ‘colony’ cages and any other caged systems used for pullets and breeder layers across the laying hen sector (laying hens, pullets and breeder layers).
Suggested answer: Agree
12.a) A 5-year transition period, beginning with a ban on the installation of new enriched ‘colony’ cages and any other caged systems used for pullets and breeder layers on 1 January 2027 and followed by a complete ban on enriched ‘colony’ cages and any other caged systems used for pullets and breeder layers on 1 January 2032, is appropriate.
Suggested answer: Disagree, it is too long
13.a) A ban on conventional ‘battery’ cages on 1 January 2027 for smaller scale commercial units or hobby-keepers with fewer than 350 laying hens is appropriate.
Suggested answer: Agree
14.a) What are the barriers to moving fully to non-cage systems? Please rank the below categories, with number 1 being the most important.
Suggested ranking:
- Financial 3
- Technical (for example, training, consulting) 1
- Operational (for example, logistics, planning, contracts) 2
14.b) Are there any other barriers that should be considered?
Suggested: Leave blank.
15. Are you currently a laying hen egg producer (including smaller scale commercial producers keeping fewer than 350 laying hens) or a pullet rearer, or representing laying hen egg producers or pullet rearers?
Suggested answer: No [skip to Exemptions]
Exemptions
44.a) Should there be an exemption for the multi-tier rearing aviaries where chicks are brooded in cage systems for the first 2 weeks only?
Suggested answer: No
45.a) Should there be any exemption for other purposes?
Suggested answer: No
46.a) Do you think that introducing a domestic ban on cages for laying hens, pullets and breeder layers would increase imports of shell eggs and egg products to the UK?
Suggested answer: No
47.a) Do you think that introducing a domestic ban on cages for laying hens, pullets and breeder layers would increase exports of shell eggs and egg products from the UK?
Suggested answer: Yes
52. Please provide any comments or evidence on the equality impacts the proposed policy may have.
Suggested: Leave blank.
