Our chance to ban battery cages

Right now more than 10 million egg laying hens are confined in battery cages across Australia. Many other countries have already banned battery cages, and Australia is lagging seriously behind.

We now have a not-to-be-missed opportunity to bring an end to this cruel method of farming, after an Independent Panel recommended a battery cage phase out. If this recommendation is implemented by the states and territories, we could finally see an end to these horrible cages in Australia. However, this is not happening fast enough. We need your help to ensure these poor hens don't suffer for another decade or more.

Act now! Ask your local state MP to call on your state or territory agriculture minister to act on the Independent Panel’s advice, and implement a national phase out of battery cages as soon as possible by sending them the letter below.

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Dear Member,

I am writing to you today to ask you to call on our state/territory Agriculture Minister to support a ban on the use of battery cages for laying hens in this jurisdiction. The Independent Panel on Poultry Welfare has recommended phasing out battery cages for layer hens between 2032 and 2036 in Australia, a move which is also supported by overwhelming scientific evidence.

Battery cages prevent hens from carrying out their natural behaviours, such as nesting and foraging - let alone allow them enough room to even stretch their wings. Each hen is only afforded a space no bigger than a standard iPad for their entire lives.

Battery cages have already been phased out, or are in the process of doing so, in 75% of OECD nations - these include the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canada, Germany, France, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Italy, Netherlands, several states in the U.S., to name but a few. Yet Australia lags behind.

More consumers and retailers want to see an end to this cruel farming method than ever before, with the retail market share dropping from 75% to less than 30% by value in the last 15 years.

A life of such extreme confinement leads to a number of serious health problems for the hens, including brittle bones and fractures as well as higher rates of disease. I am appalled that battery cages are still in use in most jurisdictions across Australia and call on you to support a phase out and encourage our State/Territory Agriculture Minister to implement a national phase out of battery cages for layer hens. I would like to see a phase out sooner that the 10-15 years proposed, as the industry has known for some time that this was on the cards and have had considerable time to change their practices.

Kind regards,

{user_data~Name} {user_data~Surname},
{user_data~Address Line 1},
{user_data~Address Line 2}
{user_data~City Suburb} {user_data~State} {user_data~Postcode}

Contact Us:

Phone:	(02) 9973-1728
Email:	[email protected]
Mail:	Humane Society International Ltd PO BOX 439 Avalon, NSW 2107

Image: William Moreland