Debunking the Most Common Egg Industry Myths – Part 2
In Part 2 of our myth-busting series, we uncover how the egg industry manipulates hens’ biology, environments, and even marketing to hide the suffering behind every egg.
Welcome to Part 2 of our myth-busting series on the egg industry.
In Part 1, we tackled common misconceptions about hens and eggs. Now we’re exploring myths about hen biology, manipulated living conditions, and misleading marketing claims, such as “hens naturally lay eggs daily,” or “dark yolks indicate better welfare.”
If you've ever wondered how “natural” eggs really are, keep reading.
5. “Only happy hens lay eggs.”
This common belief sounds comforting, but it’s misleading.
Laying eggs is a biological function, not a reliable indicator of wellbeing. A hen may continue to lay even when her body is under immense stress. This is because hens have been bred to be highly productive, and their physiology allows them to keep laying despite poor conditions.
In commercial farms, hens face constant stress—from overcrowded barns, rough handling, and noise to sudden changes in temperature, light, or feed. These stressors can cause hormonal spikes or chronic health issues like weakened bones and suppressed immune function. Yet many hens keep laying through it all due to a process called allostasis: their bodies adapt to stress to maintain egg production—even when it takes a toll.
Egg output doesn’t mean a hen is thriving. In fact, hens in less stressful backyard environments might lay fewer eggs but live much longer and healthier lives. Meanwhile, commercial hens might keep laying while silently suffering from parasites, poor nutrition, or reproductive exhaustion.
The bottom line: consistent egg laying is not a sign of happiness or good health—it’s often a sign of survival in a system that prioritizes output over wellbeing.
6. “Hens lay an egg every day—it’s the most natural food to eat”
The egg industry likes to suggest that daily egg-laying is simply what hens do. It sounds natural, even effortless. But this image is far from the truth.
Today’s hens are the result of decades of intense selective breeding. While their wild ancestors laid around 12 eggs per year, modern hens have been engineered to produce between 250 and 330 eggs annually. In some cases, industry breeding targets push for as many as 500 eggs per hen in a single laying cycle.
This level of output is anything but natural. It puts enormous strain on the hen’s body and leads to serious health issues, including osteoporosis, skeletal depletion, and reproductive tract problems. After just 72 to 100 weeks of this exhausting cycle, the hens are considered no longer profitable and are sent to slaughter.
The truth is, hens do not lay eggs every day because it is natural. They do it because they have been genetically manipulated to meet the demands of a system that sees them as egg-producing machines.
What we call “natural” is actually the result of extreme intervention in their biology.
👉 Learn more.
7. “Hens need sunlight to lay eggs—egg farms are bright places.”
The industry loves to show sun‑drenched barns, giving the impression that hens bask in natural daylight. In reality, sunlight is not required. What matters is control.
Hens are photoperiod‑sensitive birds; their bodies start an egg‑laying cycle when they receive roughly 14 to 16 hours of light. Farmers replicate spring and summer by flipping on low‑watt bulbs and setting them on a timer. No sun needed—just electricity.
Most barns run at 10 to 20 lux, about as bright as a dim hallway closet. A sunny day outside reaches over 80 000 lux. In these gloomy sheds, dawn and dusk are faked, and red or orange lights are sometimes added to stimulate reproductive hormones. The goal is simple: more eggs, more quickly, with little regard for the toll on the hens’ bodies.
This artificial schedule keeps hens producing nonstop while masking the harsh, cramped reality inside the barn. Bright marketing photos do not match the dim truth.
8. “A dark yolk means a hen is happy and healthy.”
Egg cartons often feature deep, vibrant yolks to suggest freshness, better taste, and healthier hens. This appealing imagery, however, is purely marketing.
Egg yolk color mainly depends on diet—specifically, carotenoids from plants like corn, carrots, or alfalfa. In nature, these pigments produce a range of yolk shades from pale yellow to deep orange. But egg producers commonly add natural feed additives to achieve consistently dark yolks for consumer appeal, regardless of actual hen wellbeing or egg quality.
In fact, yolk color does not reliably indicate better nutrition, superior taste, or humane living conditions. Even hens confined in cages can produce eggs with deep-colored yolks if their diets include certain pigments.
Ultimately, yolk color is a manipulated illusion, created by producers to mask cruel practices and boost consumer appeal—not evidence of happy or healthy hens.
The egg industry carefully shapes the way we see hens, eggs, and farming practices. From controlling light exposure to force egg production, to adding pigments to feed to influence yolk color, much of what we are told is a marketing illusion.
These systems are not designed to support animal wellbeing. They are designed to maximize profit, often at the cost of the hen’s health and life.
Once we begin to question what we’ve been taught, the truth becomes hard to ignore. Hens are not machines, and eggs are not a harmless food. They are the product of a system built on control, manipulation, and suffering.
If we want a kinder world, it starts by leaving eggs off our plates.
Sources & Further Reading
Debunking the Most Common Egg Industry Myths – Part 1
How to Replace Eggs: Recipes and Resources
Ready to Go Vegan? Vegan Bootcamp
Debunking the Most Common Egg Industry Myths – Part 1
Think eggs are harmless? These 4 myths hide the brutal truth about the egg industry.
As advocates for chickens in the egg industry, we’ve heard it all. Over and over again, the same “gotcha” comments pop up beneath our posts—seemingly simple statements that attempt to justify eating eggs. But when we dig a little deeper, these claims start to unravel.
In this two-part series, we’re breaking down the most common myths we encounter. Here’s Part 1.
1. “No chickens are killed for eggs.”
This is one of the most common misconceptions we encounter—and one of the most misleading.
The idea that eggs are a harmless byproduct rests on the belief that no lives are taken in the process. But the egg industry depends on killing to function. Both hens and male chicks are routinely killed as part of standard egg production practices.
Every egg-laying hen is eventually slaughtered when her production slows—usually before she even turns two years old. Her short life is spent in confinement, her body pushed to produce egg after egg at a rate far beyond what nature ever intended. This extreme overproduction leads to serious health issues, including reproductive disorders, brittle bones, and exhaustion.
But the killing starts even earlier.
Because male chicks don’t lay eggs and aren’t profitable for meat, they’re considered useless by the industry. Just hours after hatching, these baby birds are typically killed—ground up alive, gassed, or suffocated in trash bags. Globally, this adds up to about 6 billion male chicks killed every single year. Their lives are discarded before they’ve even begun.
If every hen came from a hatchery, so did her brother—and he didn’t make it past his first day.
So yes, chickens are absolutely killed for eggs. Not just eventually. From the very beginning.
2. “Male chicks aren’t killed—they’re raised for pet food.”
This claim attempts to gloss over one of the egg industry's most brutal truths: the systematic culling of male chicks.
Because male chicks don’t lay eggs and aren’t bred to grow quickly enough for meat production, they are considered worthless to the industry. Unlike other animal-based food sectors, egg production depends on hatching fertilized eggs without knowing the chick’s sex in advance. As a result, chicks must be born first, then sorted by sex—an operation that leads to the immediate killing of males.
Within hours of hatching, male chicks are discarded—often gassed or ground alive. Their deaths are not a rare exception, but a standard industry practice carried out for the sake of efficiency and profit. Weak, injured, or deformed chicks—regardless of sex—are also culled in this process.
Some argue that these chicks are used for pet food, but even if that’s occasionally the case, it doesn’t make the practice ethically acceptable. Raising them for a few more weeks only prolongs their suffering before an inevitable, premature death. Every path leads to slaughter.
Even emerging technologies like in-ovo sexing—marketed as a compassionate alternative—do not address the suffering of the hens themselves or the parent birds used to produce fertilized eggs. The grim reality remains: male chicks are treated as disposable by-products of an industry built on reproductive control and exploitation.
👉 Learn more.
3. “Hens lay eggs anyway—it would be wasteful not to eat them.”
At first glance, this argument may seem practical. But it completely overlooks the reality of how hens come to be in egg production in the first place.
Modern egg-laying hens are not backyard wanderers casually leaving eggs behind. They are bred, purchased, and kept for one reason: to produce eggs—hundreds of them per year. This isn’t a natural occurrence; it’s the result of decades of selective breeding and manipulation. Unlike wild birds who lay just a handful of eggs to raise chicks, today’s hens have been genetically engineered to hyperovulate almost daily, far beyond what nature ever intended.
This unnatural burden takes a serious toll on their bodies. Chronic reproductive strain leads to health problems like inflammation, hunger, pain, and exhaustion. And when their production slows—typically before they even turn two—they’re slaughtered.
Using the argument “they lay them anyway” ignores that these hens are bred to suffer. Their existence has been engineered for profit, not for life.
4. “I only buy locally farmed, free-range eggs—these hens have a good life.”
This comforting belief—that buying “free-range,” “organic,” or “local” eggs means supporting happy, well-cared-for hens—is widespread, but it doesn’t hold up under scrutiny.
Egg labels vary greatly by country and often mislead consumers. In Canada and the United States, for example, “free-range” simply means the hens have some outdoor access. How much? That’s usually unspecified. In the UK and Australia, the standards are slightly more stringent, but still allow wide variation. Meanwhile, “organic” eggs might come from hens fed pesticide-free grain and granted limited outdoor time, but even these labels don’t guarantee humane or natural conditions.
What’s more, “local” farms often mirror the same industrial practices used by large-scale producers. Small scale doesn’t always mean kind. These hens are still products of the same hatcheries where male chicks are killed at birth, and the females are bred for unnatural levels of egg production. Their high output causes painful health issues like osteoporosis and reproductive tract problems, and once their egg production slows, they are slaughtered—often before they turn two.
Labels may offer the illusion of care and transparency, but they do little to alter the deeper problem: the systemic exploitation of hens for profit.
The egg industry is built on decades of carefully maintained myths—claims that eggs are harmless, natural, or humane. But the facts tell a different story. From the systematic killing of male chicks and the relentless exploitation of hens’ reproductive systems to the misleading comfort of free-range labels, we’re often sold a fantasy far removed from reality.
And these are just the beginning.
In Part 2 of our myth-busting series, we’ll take a closer look at some of the most persistent misconceptions around hen biology and egg marketing—like why hens don’t naturally lay an egg a day, how artificial lighting is used to manipulate their cycles, and whether a dark orange yolk really means anything about the life the hen lived.
If you’ve ever been told eggs are the most natural food there is, stay tuned. The truth is far more engineered.
Sources & Further Reading
Debunking the Most Common Egg Industry Myths – Part 2 (coming June 2025)
How to Replace Eggs: Recipes and Resources
Ready to Go Vegan? Vegan Bootcamp
Scrambling for Solutions: Ethical Choices for Easter Eggs
Easter, a time of joy and renewal, masks the harsh reality of hens suffering in the egg industry, facing confinement and exploitation. Behind the colorful Easter eggs lies a story of confinement, deprivation, and exploitation for these birds, offering no hope of renewal or rebirth.
Modified image depicting a hen in a battery cage, sourced from an Andrew Skowron photograph.
Easter embodies hope and new beginnings; except, that is, for the billions of lives whose exploitation is the basis of an increasingly popular and thoroughly unsustainable seasonal celebration.
For many, painting, hiding, and finding eggs are family traditions soaked in childhood memories, a celebration of life's triumphs and the promise of brighter days ahead. Innocent and fashionable activities popularized by international media. However, beneath the surface of painted eggs and joyful hunts lies the harsh reality of layer hens' suffering. There is no renewal or rebirth for them. Rather, and as we have shown time and again, their existence under the egg industry is one of perpetual confinement, pain, and premature death; a life of unimaginable hardships deprived of basic freedoms, and subjected to relentless exploitation.
The Story Behind Egg Coloring and Its Ethical Implications
The practice of coloring and decorating eggs has a rich and diverse history that spans centuries and cultures. It is believed to have originated from ancient pagan rituals celebrating the arrival of spring and the resurgence of life in nature. Eggs, as symbols of fertility and transformation, were often adorned with vibrant colors and intricate designs, marking the transition from winter's dormancy to spring's vibrancy.
_zwerg_bemalt_ostereier.jpg)
Easter, as a religious celebration rooted in Christianity, further contributed to the tradition of egg coloring and decorating. During Lent, practicing followers of the belief abstained from certain foods, including eggs. This practice resulted in a surplus of eggs accumulating by Easter, providing the practical basis for the tradition of decorating eggs as a symbol of new life and hope during Easter celebrations. However, it's important to note that the abundance of eggs during this time is not a natural occurrence but rather a consequence of human intervention. The continuous laying of eggs by chickens, unlike most other birds, is a result of selective breeding and genetic manipulation, representing a cruel tinkering with their bodies and reproductive systems.
As the tradition progressed, eggs became intertwined with Christian beliefs, symbolizing the resurrection of Christ and the promise of new life. This tradition evolved into a cherished custom, passed down through generations. Eventually, Easter egg hunts transcended religious and cultural boundaries, becoming a beloved universal activity. However, this popularity coincided with the industrialization of egg production, leading to increased suffering for hens in factory-like operations. Without this industrialization, the tradition could not have reached its current global scale.
Navigating Welfare Challenges during Peak Seasons
The decoration of and with eggs during Easter has indeed become a global phenomenon, marking the second-busiest time for egg sales following the winter holidays. However, this year, the industry faces compounded challenges due to the widespread bird flu outbreak, resulting in the loss of over 13.64 million hens, used for table eggs, in the United States since November.
But it's not just the holiday demand and the smaller stock sizes that have farmers struggling to supply enough eggs; recent welfare updates in states like California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, and Washington have added to their challenges. Despite consumers noticing the surge in retail prices due to heightened demand, they frequently fail to recognize the escalated suffering experienced by hens, irrespective of the barn setting. Many express their frustration publicly, seeking cheaper alternatives, despite their previous voting support for 'better hen welfare' initiatives just a few months ago.
This inconsistency in supporting policies with words rather than actions is also evident internationally. For instance, a significant loophole has recently come to light regarding Germany’s ban on male chick killing. Although celebrated as a major win, there is no prohibition on the import of eggs, or egg products, from countries that still allow the killing of male chicks. This includes pre-dyed Easter eggs that flood the market during festive periods. Furthermore, while the ban addresses the high number of dead male chicks, the female hens are still subject to exploitation and early death. The poultry industry's alert about eggs sourced from farms where chick culling persists highlights how consumers, who were the main driver for the culling ban, often compromise their ethical values when confronted with higher prices and limited supply.
While changes in the current food system are essential, particularly regarding animal wellbeing, the difficulties of balancing the demands of various interested parties–from stakeholders and farmers to consumers and animal welfare organizations–raises a key question: why is the emphasis solely on transitioning to cage-free systems rather than exploring egg-free alternatives or reducing egg consumption?
In a previous blog post, we argue that if we are looking at alternatives for animal eggs in our cooking and baking, we find that there are plenty of economical and healthier options available, even for traditional Easter crafts. Considering this, let's delve into exploring eco-friendly egg-free options for Easter celebrations.
Discovering Ethical Alternatives for Easter Celebrations
This Easter, let's hop into a world of creativity and compassion by exploring egg-free options for coloring and crafting. Whether you're crafting with kids or enjoying some solo artistic time, there are plenty of sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives to traditional egg dyeing.
Sustainable Coloring Options:
Plant-Based Dyes
Utilize the vibrant colors found in fruits and vegetables like beets, spinach, turmeric, and blueberries to create beautiful and natural dyes.Natural Food Coloring
Opt for organic and plant-based food coloring options available in stores for a convenient yet eco-friendly choice.DIY Eco-Dyes
Get crafty with homemade dyes using ingredients like tea, coffee, onion skins, and paprika for unique and earthy hues.
Vegan Egg Alternatives:
Wooden Eggs
Reusable and biodegradable, wooden eggs are a durable and eco-friendly option for egg crafting.Ceramic Eggs
Long-lasting and recyclable, ceramic eggs offer a sustainable alternative to traditional eggs.DIY Paper Mache Eggs
Create your own eco-friendly eggs using recycled paper and non-toxic glue for a fun and sustainable crafting experience.Plastic-Free Plastic Eggs
Look for plastic-free plastic eggs made from biodegradable materials for a less harmful option.Plastic Eggs
If using plastic eggs, opt for those made from recycled materials and commit to reusing them in future Easter celebrations.
Craft Compassionately:
Reuse and Recycle
Instead of buying new crafting materials, repurpose items from around the house like old fabric scraps, cardboard, or paper to reduce waste.Go Digital
Explore virtual Easter egg decorating apps or online platforms for eco-friendly and waste-free crafting fun.Spread Kindness
Incorporate acts of kindness into your Easter celebrations, such as making DIY gifts for loved ones or donating to local animal sanctuaries in honor of the holiday.
Easter, with its rich tapestry of tradition and symbolism, invites us to reflect not only on the joys of renewal and celebration but also on the ethical considerations that accompany our festive traditions. The vibrant history of egg coloring reminds us of the interconnectedness of our choices and the impact they have on the world.
In the midst of fluctuating food prices and economic uncertainty, it's more important than ever to approach our diets with mindfulness and intention. By opting for egg-free alternatives, we reduce our ecological footprint and extend our compassion to the animals who share our planet.
As we gather with loved ones to celebrate Easter and the arrival of spring, may our plates be filled with nourishing food that honors the earth and all its inhabitants.
Best wishes for a holiday season filled with joy, love, and kindness, both on our plates and in our hearts, not just during the holidays but every day beyond.
Juliane Priesemeister, Executive Director
Juliane worked almost a decade for an international corporation as an information designer. Generating compelling visual stories was her daily deed, but as much as she enjoyed the creative work the big corporation environment left her hungry for substance and impact.
When she started her yoga journey a few years ago the “do no harm” philosophy pushed her to align work with her personal ethics and values. Today she uses her omnibus skill set, including marketing communications, economics, and graphic design, to reveal the truth about the egg industry to consumers.
The Cage-Free Illusion: Part 1
Unravel the paradox of the cage-free movement: while hailed as progress, it inadvertently perpetuates systemic issues within the egg industry. Delve into the hidden realities shaping our food system and challenge the status quo with us.
Source: WeAnimals Media
Imagine it is the year 2124!
And, in a world liberated from the shadows of industrial animal agriculture, a young scholar traverses history, probing the slow evolution toward a vegan world. Amidst the enigma of humanity's transition, the scholar encounters the perplexing saga of the cage-free campaign—a purportedly noble initiative tainted by misguided optimism. Activists, employing the foot-in-the-door strategy, aimed for incremental shifts toward cruelty-free futures. Yet, the scholar's exploration unveils a stark reality: the industry cunningly exploited this approach, weaponizing it to evade accountability and perpetuate their cruel practices unimpeded.
As we transition from the idyllic realms of our vegan future back to the present, we confront the harsh realities of today's egg industry. Cage-free systems, heralded as a step towards humane egg production, present themselves as an alternative to traditional battery cages. However, beneath the veneer of progress lies a landscape of exploitation and compromise.
Cage-free: A Definition
Cage-free housing systems in egg production aim to create open environments within barns or buildings, allowing hens to engage in natural behaviors such as perching, nesting, and dust bathing. Unlike conventional cage systems, which confine hens to small wire enclosures, cage-free setups eliminate individual cages to provide freedom of movement.
The primary difference between cage-free and cage systems is the absence of closed wire enclosures. In cage-free systems, hens have the liberty to move around and interact with their environment, promoting their physical and psychological well-being. Unlike free-range and pasture systems that offer outdoor access, cage-free environments typically house hens indoors within spacious barns or buildings, offering protection from predators and adverse weather conditions.
Cage-free: The History
The transition to cage-free egg farms began to gain momentum in the late 20th century, with early initiatives taking root in countries such as Switzerland and the Netherlands during the 1980s and 1990s. These pioneering efforts laid the groundwork for subsequent developments in cage-free egg production, serving as test cases for alternative housing systems aimed at improving the welfare of laying hens. As consumer awareness of animal welfare issues grew and regulatory scrutiny intensified, other countries soon followed suit, with significant advancements in cage-free farming observed across Europe, North America, and Oceania by the early 21st century.
Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, a wave of legislative reforms and corporate commitments further accelerated the transition to cage-free egg production worldwide. Countries such as Germany, Sweden, and the United Kingdom implemented regulations mandating the phase-out of conventional battery cages in favor of enriched and cage-free systems, signaling a paradigm shift in the global egg industry. Similarly, major retailers and food corporations began to adopt cage-free egg sourcing policies in response to consumer demand for more ethically produced eggs, driving further investment and innovation in cage-free infrastructure.
By the 2020s, cage-free egg farms had become more prevalent across the globe, with an increasing share of the supply chains in countries such as the United States, Canada, the European Union, Australia, and New Zealand. Despite initial resistance from the egg industry, the momentum towards cage-free production continued to grow, fueled by a combination of consumer activism, regulatory mandates, and corporate commitments to animal welfare.
This map shows the dominant housing systems on commercial egg farms around the world (click on map to enlarge and zoom in). Source: welfareproject.org
As we peer into the landscape of cage-free egg production across different regions, it's essential to understand the nuanced approaches and regulatory frameworks shaping these systems. By examining the specifics of cage-free farming in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Australia, we can gain deeper insights into the diverse practices and trends driving the evolution of egg production worldwide.
Cage-free: In Comparison
In the USA, Canada, the UK, the EU, and Australia, cage-free systems typically offer more space per hen compared to conventional cage systems, with average space allocations ranging from 550 to 750 square centimeters per hen. Flock sizes in cage-free systems vary widely, often accommodating tens of thousands of hens in large barns or buildings. The size of cage-free barns also varies, with some facilities spanning over 100 meters in length and 25 meters in width to accommodate the large number of hens housed within them. The transition to cage-free housing varies among producers and is influenced by factors such as market demand, regulatory requirements, and industry initiatives.
| Countries | USA | Canada | UK | EU | Australia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Hens in Barn (Range, Average) | 1,000 - 100,000 (average varies) | 1,000 - 80,000 (average varies) | 1,000 - 80,000 (average varies) | 1,000 - 100,000 (average varies) | 1,000 - 80,000 (average varies) |
| Space per Hen | 1.0 - 1.5 sqm (10.8 - 16.1 sqft) |
1.0 - 1.5 sqm (10.8 - 16.1 sqft) |
1.0 - 1.5 sqm (10.8 - 16.1 sqft) |
0.75 sqm ( 8.1 sqft) |
0.55 sqm (5.9 sqft) |
| Depopulation Age | 80 - 100 weeks | 70 - 100 weeks | 72 weeks | 72 weeks | 80 weeks |
| Number of Eggs per Hen | 250 - 320 eggs/year | 250 - 320 eggs/year | 250 - 320 eggs/year | 250 - 320 eggs/year | 250 - 320 eggs/year |
| Cage-Free vs Caged | 39% cage-free, 61% caged |
17% cage-free, 83% caged |
79% cage-free, 21% caged |
55% cage-free, 45% caged |
57% cage-free, 43% caged |
| Cage-free by | 2025 | 2036 | 2027 | 2027 | 2036 |
Cage-free: The Hens
Hens, like many creatures, have natural behaviors and preferences that contribute to their well-being. They enjoy basking in the sunlight, scratching the earth for food, and seeking out safe, secluded spots for nesting. In small flock sizes, they establish pecking orders and maintain social structures.
However, the reality for hens in cage-free barns starkly contrasts with their natural inclinations. Instead of sun-drenched pastures and earthy substrates, they find themselves confined within crowded, windowless buildings. Opportunities for natural behaviors like dust bathing and foraging are limited, with thousands of hens competing for space and resources. Nesting areas may lack privacy, disrupting the hens' instinctual need for seclusion during egg-laying.
Despite claims that cage-free systems offer a more humane alternative to traditional battery cages, a closer examination reveals significant shortcomings.
By comparing key factors such as hatchery practices, flock sizes, laying illnesses, and early slaughter rates, we can gain a comprehensive understanding of the true impact of egg production on animal well-being.
| Battery Cages | Enriched Cages | Cage-Free | Free-Range | Pasture Raised | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hatchery Sourced (Male Chick Culling) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bred for Overproduction | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Laying Illnesses | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Early Slaughter | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Hatchery Sourced (Male Chicks Culling): In the egg industry, hatcheries are responsible for supplying laying hens. However, the process of hatchery sourcing involves separating male and female chicks shortly after hatching. Male chicks, deemed economically nonviable for egg production, are typically culled, often through methods like maceration or gassing. While cage-free systems do not directly address the issue of hatchery sourcing, they perpetuate the demand for hatchery-supplied hens, contributing to the inherent cruelty of chick culling practices.
Bred for Overproduction: Selective breeding within the egg industry aims to maximize egg production efficiency, typically at the expense of hen well-being. Hens in cage-free systems are bred for traits such as high egg production rates and feed efficiency, leading to overproduction and strain on their bodies. While cage-free environments may offer slightly more space and freedom of movement compared to traditional cages, the underlying issue of over breeding persists, exacerbating health problems and reducing overall welfare.
Laying Illnesses: Cage-free housing systems, despite providing hens with minimally more space and some environmental enrichment, do not eliminate the risk of laying-related health issues. High egg production rates can lead to reproductive disorders such as egg binding and prolapse, as well as metabolic disorders like osteoporosis. Additionally, the crowded conditions in cage-free barns may increase the spread of diseases and parasites among hens, further compromising their well-being.
Early Slaughter: While cage-free systems may offer a slightly longer lifespan for hens compared to battery cages, the ultimate fate of laying hens remains the same—early slaughter. Hens in cage-free environments are typically slaughtered after one to two years of egg production, far short of their natural lifespan. Despite claims of improved welfare, cage-free systems perpetuate the cycle of premature slaughter inherent in the egg industry, underscoring the ethical concerns associated with egg production as a whole.
As we conclude our exploration of cage-free egg production, it's evident that the industry's narrative of ethical progress is far from straightforward. Despite the promise of marginal improvements in hen welfare, cage-free systems fail to address fundamental issues ingrained in egg production. From unresolved hatchery practices to premature slaughter, the realities of cage-free farming underscore the pressing need for a comprehensive reassessment of our treatment of animals within our food systems.
Before wrapping up, it's essential to highlight the shortcomings of corporate commitments and the accountability of animal rights organizations. Despite promises of reform, many corporations have failed to deliver on their pledges, while some animal rights groups have struggled to hold the egg industry accountable in certain regions for falling short on commitments.
Moreover, the proliferation of cage-free campaigns championed by welfare organizations worldwide has ignited significant debate within vegan and animal rights circles. Join us as we examine the motivations behind these campaigns, their impact on consumer perceptions, and whether they genuinely serve the interests of animal welfare or inadvertently perpetuate the status quo of animal exploitation in Part 2.
Juliane Priesemeister, Executive Director
Juliane worked almost a decade for an international corporation as an information designer. Generating compelling visual stories was her daily deed, but as much as she enjoyed the creative work the big corporation environment left her hungry for substance and impact.
When she started her yoga journey a few years ago the “do no harm” philosophy pushed her to align work with her personal ethics and values. Today she uses her omnibus skill set, including marketing communications, economics, and graphic design, to reveal the truth about the egg industry to consumers.
Dead Ones - Exposing the Truth for True Transformation
With the EU's unified trade area, consumers find it challenging to track the origins of the eggs they purchase, especially when used as ingredients. In May and June 2023, two undercover activists documented the grim reality of hens kept on a farm operated by the largest egg producer in Poland and the entire European Union – Fermy Drobiu Woźniak.
In the realm of animal welfare standards, the European Union (EU) has earned a reputation as a global leader. Yet, this reputation doesn't uniformly extend to the conditions of laying hens across EU member states. Within the EU's integrated trade zone, consumers encounter a formidable challenge – deciphering the origins of the eggs they buy, particularly when utilized as ingredients.
As consumers within the European Union grapple with the challenge of tracing the origins of the eggs they purchase, a chilling exposé has emerged. In May and June 2023, two dedicated undercover activists, Oksana and Sasha, embarked on a harrowing journey into the heart of the continent's largest egg producer – Fermy Drobiu Woźniak, nestled in Wioska, Poland. Their six-week odyssey within the sprawling facility, which boasted 'enriched cages' as a supposed improvement over battery cages, bore witness to unimaginable suffering. Their account sheds light on the stark realities of egg production—here is what they found:
“‘Enriched cages’ were introduced as an alternative to battery cages. But for hens, this transition has been far from liberating. They continue to suffer in cramped and unnatural environments.”
Stress, aggression, cannibalism, cramped cages, unbearable heat, and swarms of fleas – these were the daily horrors revealed by the investigation.
Cramped Cages
The cages on the farm were incredibly cramped, with hens barely having room to move. Hens had to squeeze through crowded spaces, making it impossible for them to spread their wings. The lack of space was agonizing for these birds.Cannibalism and Feather Pecking
Stress from overcrowding led to aggression among the hens. They fought for space and access to the nest, resulting in feather pecking and even cannibalism. Weaker hens were often pecked to death by their fellow birds.Painful Deformities
The mesh floor of the cages caused severe foot deformities in many hens. Their toes bent painfully in the opposite direction, causing excruciating pain. No help was provided, and they were left to suffer alone.Slow and Inhumane Deaths
Injuries from the metal perches were common, and hens trapped there were left to die slowly from hunger and thirst. There was no procedure to help injured or sick hens, and everyday veterinary care was nonexistent. Defective cages proved deadly for many.
Just a few of the many snapshots taken by Oksana and Sasha during their undercover investigation. Source: Otwarte Klatki
Fermy Drobiu Woźniak, being the largest egg producer in Poland and the EU, raises questions about the conditions for hens across the industry. Across the European Union, there are, in fact, significant disparities in laying hen welfare. While some countries have made strides in transitioning to more humane systems, others lag. For instance, while Germany keeps the majority of their hens in cage-free systems (>60%), the neighboring countries of Poland, The Czech Republic, and Slovakia still keep over 70% of laying hens in cages.
This map shows the dominant housing systems on commercial egg farms around the world (click on map to enlarge and zoom in). Source: welfareproject.org
A hen escaped the cages and stands in front of a pile of crushed eggs. Source: Otwarte Klatki
In our pursuit of ethical and humane eggs, the global landscape of egg production, as revealed in the linked map, sheds light on the challenges consumers face. This desire for better conditions for hens often remains unfulfilled, as demonstrated by the Polish undercover investigation. This investigation serves as a stark reminder that the transition from battery cages to ‘enriched cages’ may not always deliver the expected improvements for hens.
As consumers, we supported this transition with the hope of more ethical eggs, but it's crucial to consider whether we may have been inadvertently misled. We've explored the grim realities of these housing systems in prior posts, accessible here and here, offering an opportunity for us to reflect on our choices and demand genuine humane treatment for hens.
It's worth recognizing that the fight for improved conditions must go beyond the superficial shift from cages to 'cage-free.' It's an invitation to be more discerning when navigating the options on supermarket shelves. We understand that this can be challenging. It's a journey fraught with difficult decisions, and we've all been conditioned to believe in the status quo.
But let's take a moment to imagine this from the hen's perspective – a life filled with cramped spaces, aggression, and suffering. We believe that deep down, all of us share a common desire for a more compassionate world, not just for ourselves but for all living beings. The path to a cruelty-free life for hens, as well as a more compassionate world for all animals, begins on our plates. By embracing egg-free diets and supporting alternatives that respect the well-being of hens, we can take a significant step toward honoring their plea for a life free from suffering.
Please leave eggs off your plate.
Otwarte Klatki’s goal is to prevent animal suffering by introducing systemic social changes, documenting the conditions of industrial farming and education promoting positive attitudes towards animals.
Their latest investigation into Fermy Drobiu Woźniak can we found here (viewers discretion advised).
Juliane Priesemeister, Executive Director
Juliane worked almost a decade for an international corporation as an information designer. Generating compelling visual stories was her daily deed, but as much as she enjoyed the creative work the big corporation environment left her hungry for substance and impact.
When she started her yoga journey a few years ago the “do no harm” philosophy pushed her to align work with her personal ethics and values. Today she uses her omnibus skill set, including marketing communications, economics, and graphic design, to reveal the truth about the egg industry to consumers.
Our Position on Cage Free Initiatives
Single-issue campaigns, such as cage-free initiatives, have long been a focus of many animal rights organizations like HSUS.
Photo credit: HSUS
The Humane Society of the United States recently announced what they claim is a huge victory for caged hens in the state of Washington.
Single-issue campaigns, such as cage-free initiatives, have long been a focus of many animal rights organizations like HSUS. There is no doubt living on litter (assuming it is dry and properly cycled) vs. a wire floor for 18 months is less cruel. However, some “free-range” environments still use metal or wire flooring to allow urine and faeces to pass through into the manure pits below (see image below). Nonetheless, caged environments generally tend to provide hens the living space of about 8.5” x 11”. Cage-free environments could potentially give a hen about the equivalent of 12” x 12”.
The method of housing depicted above is considered by many as “free-range”.
However, what is the data showing us as to the effectiveness of these campaigns and are they really a victory for hens forced to endure endless egg laying?
Flock sizes and egg consumption in the U.K., Canada and the United States in 2017 and 2018 are at their highest levels in history and will continue to grow due to demand. As the general public are largely ignorant of standard practices in the egg industry, cage-free initiatives wrongly focus public attention on only one of the many cruel aspects of egg production - the laying phase. Given the general public already does not see the same moral imperative on the issue of egg laying hens with, say, animals used for meat, cage-free initiatives reinforce this false notion and helps to remove any ethical concerns the public may have once had about eggs. And if you doubt this, just read some of the comments on HSUS’s Facebook page as it relates to this “victory” (see below).
And the reality is, for cage-free farms to remain economically competitive in the early days of transition, they will have to increase their stocking densities and/or increase the number of hens per barn. And these hens will still be subject to many of the same illnesses and disease that afflict caged hens. And possibly a few more they wouldn’t have had in a caged environment.
The argument that "cage-free" will increase the price of eggs and thus drive down consumption is not necessarily supported by the data. Once large food retailers and restaurants like McDonald's finally convert their massive, global supply chains to cage-free, the price gap between cage-free and caged eggs will ultimately narrow at the hand of market pressures until there is virtually little to no difference once adjusted for inflation.
Reducetarianism and flexitarianism are also contributing to the increase in egg consumption as consumers seek out protein alternatives for meat. While plant-based proteins are part of those alternative choices, so too are eggs. Single-issue campaigns have not been effective thus far for hens forced to lay eggs. Had they been then we would see egg consumption trending lower, not at an all-time high with projected demand going down, not up. And given that egg production, qualitatively and quantitatively, is the most cruel form of animal agriculture on the planet, this is not good news in terms of reducing overall animal suffering. If egg consumption is at historic highs and will continue to go up, so too will maceration, debeaking, vaccinations, transport and slaughter.
Follow Your Heart’s “VeganEgg”.
We believe the animal rights movement has reached a tipping point. And with the myriad of plant-based alternatives and compassionate choices available, the time has come for a much bigger focus on the care tradition and advocating for leaving all animal foods, including eggs, off our plates. Unfortunately, large animal rights organizations like HSUS and others have not evolved their strategies.
Cage-free legislation is not a victory for animals. It is an anthropocentric justification to make us feel better that we are achieving a measure of success when all the metrics point in the other direction.
Note: this post was updated on May 22 to include a photo of free-range hens on a perforated steel flooring.
Nigel Osborne is the Executive Dir. of Egg-Truth. Nigel has years of experience related to animal rights and on-line advocacy. Nigel's extensive background in the publishing, outdoor advertising, printing and web design industries over the last 25 years provides him with a strong, creative acumen and business management experience. Through Egg-Truth.com and it's social media channels, Nigel seeks to increase awareness among the public about global egg production and expose the conditions for the billions of hens condemned to laying every year.