Arizona Joins The Movement To Ban Cages For Hens
Arizona has become the 10th state to ban the sale and production of eggs from caged hens. Arizona joins California, Oregon, Washington, Michigan, Utah, Nevada, Colorado, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island in their commitment to protecting millions of hens from experiencing the pain and suffering of confinement.
Free From the Cruelty of Cages
The new regulation approved in Arizona is an important step forward in animal welfare. Currently, in the U.S, 231 million hens in the egg industry are trapped in metal cages with no more space than the size of an iPad. Packed tightly with six to ten other birds, they’re unable to spread their wings and engage in their most instinctive behaviors like perching and dust bathing. The stress of confinement often leads to self-mutilation, cannibalism, and even death.
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), joined by Animal Equality and other animal rights organizations, worked relentlessly to gain public support for the ban. Animal Equality alone was able to mobilize 100 of our supporters in Arizona to submit public comments in support of the regulation.
As a result, the comments submitted from animal advocates across the state outnumbered the opposing comments by 17 to one. HSUS estimates that the new guidelines to be implemented by 2025 will impact the lives of over 7 million chickens.
Campaigning For Hens
The victory in Arizona comes on the heels of the “Restaurant Roast” campaign led by The Open Wing Alliance, a coalition of 80 animal rights organizations, including Animal Equality. Together, we pressured five major restaurant chains, including The Cheesecake Factory, to eliminate cages for hens during the campaign. We’ve received a commitment by four to phase out the use of cages by 2025.
As consumers’ views on the egg industry shift and the demand for cage-free eggs grows, achievements like these represent a significant step toward a cage-free future. In fact, according to the USDA, 34% of hens are living cage-free, which is a 200 percent increase from 2017.
Progress For Hens
Animal Equality has been campaigning for hens for over a decade, and the progress we continue to achieve wouldn’t be possible without our determined activists and the support of our donors. While we must do more to improve hens’ lives, this step forward in Arizona deserves celebration. Each of your actions—signing petitions, sharing our work on social media, and reaching out to lawmakers directly—brings us one step closer to our shared goal of creating a better future for animals. And remember, you can help chickens and other farmed animals most directly by choosing to leave them off your plate.
