Little Green Book

The 30 million egg-laying hens in the UK all lay within one of three systems. We feel that it's important to show the realities of each of the systems. Check out the images below for the truth about what it means when you buy battery-cage eggs, barn eggs or free-range eggs.
For even more information, visit RSPCA's Freedom Food on laying hens.

A Conventional Battery Cage...
is made out of thin wire with a sloping mesh floor and often stacked 10 tiers high, a cage typically measures 50 x 55cm and houses five birds. EU legislation states a minimum of only 550cm² per bird - less than the size of an A4 sheet. The birds can't move about, stretch, nest or perform other normal chicken behaviours like preening or scratching properly. There are a host of welfare problems associated with cages: The sloping wire floor can damage feet and claws; restricted movement results in fragile and often broken bones as well as frustration and aggression. And in such close confines hens cannot escape aggression from other hens.

A Barn System...
allows the hens to roam freely inside uncaged, have perches to roost on and space to stretch their wings. Nesting boxes provide a quiet place for cage-free egg-laying and there is floor litter for scratching in. Multi-tier barns provide additional levels above ground for the hens to explore.

A Free-Range System...
is where most likely the hens are raised, uncaged, in similar-sized barns to the barn system with the same facilities but with the addition of pop holes that allow access to the outdoors. EU legislation permits a stocking density of 2500 birds per hectare whereas the RSPCA requires 1000 birds per hectare during the life of the flock. This is to allow good land management without ever going over the maximum EU stocking density. Shade and shelter on the range encourage the hens outside and protects them from bad weather and predators. 

Now back to Our Little Green Book on Crackingly Good Eggs for where to buy and more...