'Cage-free' to finally mean it

Photo: The Canadian Press

The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies says a new code of practice for egg farmers will help reduce the extreme stress suffered by egg-laying hens and give consumers some assurance about the term "cage-free."

The National Farm Animal Care Council code calls for producers to work toward phasing out the use of small, cramped cages for hens over the next 15 years, and sets new care standards for the birds, the federation says.

With 90 per cent of egg-laying hens living in cramped cages, the code will help egg farmers make the transition to more humane practices, federation president Barbara Cartwright said Monday.

"The phase-out of barren battery cages is a huge win for Canada's hens," Cartwright said. "The timeline is much longer than we consider acceptable, but it doesn't diminish how meaningful a change this is."

Battery cages are so small that hens can't walk or spread their wings for their entire lives. No more of these cages are to be built in Canada as of April 1.

The new code also spells out standards of care for so-called "cage-free" egg-laying hens.

The federation said this will ensure that hens have more space to perch and forage for food, boxes to nest in and better care if they become sick or hurt.

Under the new code the federation expects that half of Canada's egg-laying hens will be in cage-free barns within eight years or live in larger cages.