Cage hens live in cramped spaces called battery cages. These cages are frequently so small that the hens cannot move around freely. Raising hens this way, without proper space, is a great contributor to many health issues. Step 6: When hens experience movement restricting they may fall ill and cause other health complications. For instance, hens confined to small cages may form sores on their feet due to an inability to walk or stand comfortably. Anxiety can also cause birds to pluck their feathers out, as can subplastic facilities. These issues can lead to great pain for the hens and are detrimental to their short- and long-term health and welfare.
Egg laying cages have a wide array of view points on them. Some say hens should be free to roam and deserve better living conditions. People like this believe animals do not belong in cages, where they are unable to move or behave comfortably. They argue that hens deserve a better quality of life. Conversely, certain individuals believe that cages are needed to produce sufficient amounts of eggs for the population. They are then able to hatch all the eggs they need for the overall profitability of the company, tell them it is for the good of the people, that egg production needs to be done this way because you need to feed the masses who eat eggs as a protein source. And this disagreement has spawned many discussions around what is better for the hens, and for people who eat the eggs.
Hen's caged systems There are two major varieties of caged systems that are used for hens like: battery cages and enriched cages. The most common type of egg laying cage, battery cages. The cages date from the 1950s and are meant to cram in many hens in a minuscule space. Sadly, this leads to the hens being packed in close together and too constrained to freely walk or spread about. All these hens might be crammed into one cage, leading to stress and poor health for the hens.
On the other hand, enriched cages do differ a little bit. They are bigger and offer more room for the hens. Usually made with metal, the enriched cages contain features such as little perches for hens to sit on and nest boxes for laying eggs. Although these cages allow hens a bit more range of movement, understand that hens in enriched cages might not find themselves able to wander as they ought. They could still restrict the extent to which they can move, and there may be a maximum number of hens permitted per cage.
There are still arguments whether cage system is good enough for hens and consumer alike. Research indicates that hens do live better lives in enriched cages than in battery cages. The extra room and amenities might make them happier and healthier. But other studies indicate that both styles of cage tend to have adverse consequences for the health and welfare of the hens. That means there is still big questions needing further research to find the mostfar for the hens and consumers.
However, they do point out that arguing against caged systems would mean that we can't produce enough food for consumers. They fear altering the existing system could mean higher bills for everyone. This, of course, leads us to the second consideration when it comes to battery hen farm, and that is economics. Battery cages are less expensive to build and operate, and they yield more eggs. This leads to the retail price of eggs being lower for consumers at the store. By contrast, the initial investment to set up enriched cages is larger than that of conventional cages and they produce less eggs, which can again result in higher prices for consumers.
Animal welfare however, is at the heart of the debate surrounding egg laying cages. They do not indicate that hens in cages can engage in their natural behaviors. In a more natural environment, they can move around freely, play, and socialize with other hens, but they cannot in cages. But free-range hens could be at risk from predators, such as foxes or birds of prey, and they can also more susceptible to diseases. [6] More research and development will be needed to find a balance among ensuring the welfare of hens, keeping costs down, and satisfying consumer needs.