In poultry farming, battery cages (often called factory farming in the United States or battery farming in the United Kingdom) are an industrial agricultural confinement system used primarily for egg-laying hens. The battery cage has generated controversy among advocates for animal welfare and animal rights and industrial egg producers.
It is estimated that over 60% of the world’s eggs are produced in industrial systems, mostly using battery cages, including over three quarters in the EU.
Cage size
Floor space for battery cages range from 300 cm² per bird and up. EU standards in 2003 called for at least 550 cm² per hen. In the US, the current recommendation by the United Egg Producers is 67 to 86 in² (430 to 560 cm²) per bird.
The space available to battery hens has often been described as less than the size of a piece of paper. A4 sized paper has an area of ≈ 97 in² (625 cm²), while letter sized paper has an area of ≈ 93.5 in² (603 cm²). A typical cage is about the size of a filing cabinet drawer and holds eight to 10 hens. Hens in battery cages do not have room to lie down or stretch their wings.
It is estimated that over 60% of the world’s eggs are produced in industrial systems, mostly using battery cages, including over three quarters in the EU.
Cage size
Floor space for battery cages range from 300 cm² per bird and up. EU standards in 2003 called for at least 550 cm² per hen. In the US, the current recommendation by the United Egg Producers is 67 to 86 in² (430 to 560 cm²) per bird.
The space available to battery hens has often been described as less than the size of a piece of paper. A4 sized paper has an area of ≈ 97 in² (625 cm²), while letter sized paper has an area of ≈ 93.5 in² (603 cm²). A typical cage is about the size of a filing cabinet drawer and holds eight to 10 hens. Hens in battery cages do not have room to lie down or stretch their wings.
Reference:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_cage
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