Why cage-free?

Inside Canada's egg farms

Nearly all of Canada’s eggs come from hens in battery cages, where each hen is forced to live in a space smaller than a sheet of notebook paper. Most Canadian egg farms don’t reflect the public’s increasing concern for the welfare of farm animals.

The average hen produces up to 300 eggs in a year; 64% more than they could produce 40 years ago due to selective breeding.

Designed to produce the highest number of eggs as quickly and cheaply as possible, the battery cage is one of the most inhumane ways to keep farm animals. Five to seven hens are typically crammed into each cage with almost no room to turn around or stretch their wings. They are unable to nest, perch, peck, scratch or even experience the sunshine, causing severe stress and frustration. This can cause hens to peck each other, sometimes to death. The industry’s solution is to sever the chicks’ beaks painfully with a red-hot blade or infra-red beam. The hens suffer loss of feathers, bruising and abrasions from constantly rubbing against the cage and each other.

Hens live in these cages until they can no longer produce eggs ‘”efficiently” (at approximately 18 months) – during which time their bones become so brittle – from lack of exercise as well as calcium depletion from producing so many eggs – that some suffer breakages and some can no longer stand. These ‘spent hens’ are then sent off to slaughter for low-grade chicken products, and some cannot even be used for this, so there is no incentive for handling them carefully when transported for slaughter.

Be part of the solution

Fortunately, some farmers are going the extra distance to ensure that the animals they raise experience a decent quality of life. And as people like you continue to demand humane and organic options, even more farmers will choose cage-free.

There are cage-free alternatives available in most grocery stores across the country. For just a few cents more you’ll be ensuring that hens have space to turn around and stretch their wings. Next time you go grocery shopping look for these labels:

	Free-Run (also known as barn eggs) Hens are allowed to move freely in a barn, usually have access to nest boxes, but no outdoor access. However, this label is not regulated or verified by third-party inspectors, so standards may vary.
	Free-Range Hens are allowed to move freely, usually have access to nest boxes and outdoor access (weather permitting). However, this label is not regulated or verified by third-party inspectors, so standards may vary.
	Canada Organic In order for eggs to be labelled organic they must be certified according to the Organic Products Regulation, which requires hens to move freely, have at least 1667 cm2 of space, outdoor access (weather permitting), organic feed and living conditions that encourage natural behaviour
	BC SPCA certified Based on the five freedoms of animal welfare. All hens must be free-run or free-range, have at least 1100 cm² of space, nest boxes, perches and bedding material to promote animal well-being.
	Certified Local Sustainable Access to nest boxes, perches, dust baths and fresh air in a cage-free environment is mandatory. Farmers get bonus points for more humane practices (ie; if hens are not beak-trimmed, have more nest boxes, perches and outdoor access). Birds can be transported up to 12 hours from catching to slaughter. Audited.