City Governments Take Action for Egg-Laying Hens

©Compassion Over Killing More city councils are taking action to uncage laying hens.

Cities from Massachusetts to California are speaking out against one of the most notorious factory farm abuses: the confinement of egg-laying hens inside tiny cages where they can't walk or spread their wings. By taking a stand against this cruelty, elected officials are joining a nationwide movement away from factory farm cruelty.

In late July, the Cambridge, Mass. City Council unanimously passed a resolution condemning the intensive confinement of egg-laying hens in battery cages and encouraging those consumers who do buy eggs not to purchase eggs produced by caged hens.

Cambridge Councilmember Craig Kelley introduced the resolution, explaining, "I'm proud that Cambridge has become a leader in the growing movement to oppose battery cage confinement in the egg industry. Elected leaders should set an example when it comes to animal cruelty, and cramming egg-laying hens inside tiny cages is clearly cruel and inhumane."

Nationwide Movement

With its vote, Cambridge became the sixth city following Winter Springs, Fla., Berkeley, Calif., New Port Richey, Fla., West Hollywood, Calif. and Takoma Park, Md. to unanimously pass such a resolution.

Berkeley Councilmember Dona Spring spearheaded her city's resolution in April, stating, "Berkeley has long been a leader in issues of social responsibility, and I'm proud that it has become a leader in the growing movement away from one of the worst factory farm abuses."

A number of major corporations are moving away from battery cages. Burger King is beginning to use cage-free eggs. Whole Foods Market and Wild Oats Natural Marketplace have stopped selling eggs from caged hens, while Wolfgang Puck is ending his use of battery-cage eggs. Nike has only cage-free eggs in its cafeteria. Even tech companies such as AOL and Google have ended their use of cage eggs in their employee cafeterias.

While cage-free does not mean cruelty-free, cage-free hens generally have 250 to 300 percent more space per bird and are able to engage in more of their natural behaviors than are caged hens. Cage-free hens may not be able to go outside, but they are able to walk, spread their wings and lay their eggs in nests—all behaviors permanently denied to hens confined in battery cages.

Paul Shapiro, senior director of The Humane Society of the United States' factory farming campaign, commented, "These elected officials have sent a clear message: the egg industry's notorious record on animal welfare is shameful, and it should take meaningful steps in the right direction such as ending its confinement of laying hens in battery cages."

See the Video

Battery-Cage Eggs

Related Links

'No Battery Eggs' Campaign Exposes the Hard-Boiled Truth about Laying Hens

Cage-Free Egg Production vs. Battery-Cage Egg Production

An HSUS Report: The Welfare of Animals in the Egg Industry