Twelve years ago a law was passed, coming into effect on 1st January 2012, banning barren battery cages for laying hens. This is now under threat.
Some European countries, Poland for example, has been trying to undermine the ban; seeking to get it delayed or diluted. Yesterday, in fourteen countries, Compassion in World Farming called its dedicated supporters and allies across Europe to action to ‘Defend The Big Move’.
Here in London, as the sun beat down on Trafalgar Square, people stopped in their tracks to see people being crammed into cages. The cages were scale replicas of barren battery cages, in which each hen has less space than a piece of A4 paper. Barren battery cages are an inhumane example of factory farming that goes against respecting animal sentience. Hens in cages suffer physical and psychological stress: they can’t carry out normal behaviours like flapping their wings or exercise, contributing to osteoporosis (brittle bones) and the threat of their bones simply breaking as a result.
The turn-out to defend The Big Move yesterday was terrific. I spoke to our ‘human hens’ about their experience in the cages. Ellie-Mae hated the claustrophobic atmosphere – she had no space to move, and the cage roof was only just above her head. We played a recording from inside a real barren battery cage environment to more fully simulate the experience. Another ‘human hen’, Lisa, said “I’m glad I only spent a few hours in there, not twenty four hours a day for my whole life”.
With just over eight months to go before barren battery cages in Europe are due to be consigned to the history books, we must continue to fight to make sure that promises are kept and the ban goes ahead. Everyone’s support is crucial, and thank you so much for helping to ensure that our message to the EU is clear – “No dilution. No delays. The time is now to keep your promise.”
I wrote the other day about our recent 
