Housing system
Battery Cage
Egg-collection wire cage
What it is
A bare wire enclosure holds laying hens in groups. It is built so feed reaches the birds, droppings fall away, and eggs are collected without anyone entering.
Where it sits in the system
Wire cages keep the cost of an egg down: the manure separates itself, the eggs come out without handling, and the space each hen occupies is as small as the system allows.
Welfare concern
A hen in a battery cage has no nest, no perch and no litter to forage or dust bathe in, and not enough room to spread her wings or take more than a step. Wire floors and near-total inactivity leave her prone to injury and weakened bones.
Worth being precise about
Cage design and legal standards differ between countries. Enriched systems add resources, but they still restrict space and behavioural choice.
