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Animal News

Tuesday, 22 November 2011




Stand up for hens!

The RSPCA is asking the Government and DEFRA to make sure that all eggs sold in UK stores meet strict animal welfare conditions.

In 1999, European member states agreed on new laws that ban chickens being kept in traditional battery-style cages. The new rule comes into effect in January 2012 yet, despite having 12 years to prepare, the RSPCA thinks that lots of countries will not change their farming methods in time.

All UK egg producers are expected to be ready in time for the January deadline.

A senior scientist from the RSPCA says: “If nothing is done to stop these illegal eggs coming into the UK, it could be seen as rewarding producers who are still using cruel, conventional battery cages.”

Battery hens are kept indoors in cramped, caged conditions. Lots of hens are kept together with nothing to do. The new rules mean larger cages with more space, scratching posts and other areas for the hens to move around in. Free range chickens are allowed to scratch around and lay eggs wherever they like.





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  • chickengal (Age 11) wrote on Thursday, 24 November 2011 @ 18:38

    I am happy that they are doing that because lots of those poor chickens are kept in small cages and forced to lay eggs. They are not fed well or treated well at all, and it is animal abuse really. I love chickens!!!

  • Bunnycat (Age 13) wrote on Thursday, 1 December 2011 @ 19:16

    Thank goodness!!! But on the bad side, the chickens bred for meat are suffering even worse. Not only are they kept in cages, they are fed chemicals so they grow fat really quickly and their legs break with the strain. :(