The What
Why Canadians Are Debating Where Their Eggs Come From
Why is Laying Hen Housing a Controversy?
While welfare concerns for laying hens have long been debated, over the past couple of decades hen living conditions have been increasingly highlighted by animal welfare advocates.
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In 2012, the European Union (EU) banned the use of conventional battery cage housing systems. Following a thorough review of alternative laying hen housing systems and the consultation of egg industry stakeholders, in 2017, Canada’s National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) released an updated Code of Practice setting the standard for the complete phase-out of conventional-style housing systems for egg-laying hens by 2036. The "requirements" and "recommendations" from this guideline were then used to update Egg Farmers of Canada's enforceable Animal Care Program. By 2036, systems active in Canada will be enriched cages, single-tier free-run (floor), multi-tier free-run (aviary), and free-range housing.
The crux of this controversy revolves around two key questions related to animal welfare:
1.
​Which components of animal welfare should be prioritized?
There are many factors that contribute to a hen's welfare, making good overall welfare hard to achieve.
See the Five Domains of Animal Welfare
2.
Which welfare outcomes are associated with each housing system type?
Different housing systems have both scientifically supported AND publicly associated, benefits and costs related to how they influence physical, behavioural, and psychological welfare outcomes.
Keep these questions in mind as you explore the five housing systems under scrutiny
Types of Hen Housing
A battery cage – the conventional housing system being phased out under the NFACC’s Code of Practice guidelines – is a wired cage system that first appeared in the 1930s. It was introduced to improve hygiene of laying hens and make management easier. ​
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Since the 1930s laying hen management, housing system design, disease control, and understanding of animal sentience and welfare has evolved significantly. Systems have moved beyond the “conventional” to the “alternative” (a.k.a. non-battery cage housing systems).
Here are the hen housing options according to current Canadian standards:
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Housing System Overview
Battery Cage
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Movement: Minimal
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Environment: Empty cage
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Management: Automated manure & egg collection
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Space per hen: 450 cm2
Enriched Cage
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Movement: Limited
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Environment: Caged but enriched with nesting area, perches & scratch pad
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Management: Automated manure & egg collection
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Space per hen: 750 cm2
Free-Run
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Movement: Expanded
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Environment: Indoor, open barn floor with nesting area, perches & litter
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Management: Mix of automated & manual manure & egg collection
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Space per hen: 929.0 cm2 or 1,900.0 cm2
Free-Range
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Movement: Expanded
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Environment: Outdoor & Indoor, open barn floor with nesting area, perches & litter
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Management: Mix of automated & manual manure & egg collection
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Space per hen: 929.0 cm2 or 1,900.0 cm2
Hen Welfare Across Different Housing Systems
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The foundation of animal welfare can be defined by the "Five Domains" model
1. Nutrition - Access to good quality and quantity of food and water.
2. Environment - An appropriate environment that encourages comfort.
3. Health - A good fitness level and the absence of disease or injuries.
4. Behaviour - an environment that provides diverse stimulus, activities, and interaction opportunities with others.
5. Mental State - Conditions and treatment which promote positive mental states and reduce mental suffering.
How is Animal Welfare Defined?
A hen’s overall welfare sits at the centre of all five of these domains. Explore the pie chart below to see examples of contributors to three of these welfare domains.
Physical conditions that affect how a hen feels
HEALTH
Her Body
Bones & feet
Strong bones & healthy feet let her move without pain
Disease control
Protection from parasites and bacteria keeps her immune system from being constantly under stress
Feathers & skin
Good feather coverage signals she’s in good overall condition.
Natural behaviours hens are strongly motivated to act out daily
BEHAVIOUR
Her Instincts
Nesting
Finding a private, sheltered spot to lay eggs is strong instinct
Perching
Roosting off the ground overnight is a safety behaviour
Dustbathing
Rolling in loose material keeps feathers clean and is a key comfort behaviour
The physical space where the hen lives – what it contains & what it exposes her to
ENVIRONMENT
Her Home
Enrichment structures
Perches, nest boxes, and scratch pads promote natural behaviours
Space & group size Overcrowding leads to stress, competition & injury
Air quality
High ammonia from manure or dust in the air damages lungs and raises disease risk
Temperature & light
Proper lighting cycles and temperature control affect both health & laying
What Does the Literature Say?
Scientific research is often used to support value-based decisions. Each tab in the table below provides some context into how different housing systems influence hen welfare.
NOTE
Welfare outcomes are complicated and diverse. Switching from caged to cage-free doesn't necessarily mean every aspect of a hen's welfare will improve.
Why?
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No system is perfect - Each system has trade-offs for hen welfare.
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Different types of hens respond differently to certain environments.
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How a hen is raised influences their ability to navigate a housing system as an adult.
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Management practices matter just as much as the housing system.
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All systems require thoughtful management by farmers to improve hen wellbeing and laying productivity (eggs laid per hen).
Components of Welfare
Factors to consider:
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Contact with disease sources like litter, soil, manure, wild birds, rodents, insects or parasites (Widowski et al, 2013).
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Access to exercise reduces risks from obesity related diseases (Bryden et al., 2021).
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Vaccination programs can significantly reduce the risk of viral infections (Kaufmann-Bart & Hoop, 2009).
Key takeaway: many health risks and diseases can be managed through environmental control.
Many welfare outcomes are connected to the amount of control a farmer has and the environmental complexity of a housing system.
This summary highlights general patterns of welfare. To view a detailed comparison of each component of hen welfare across the different types of housing systems, click the button below:
Food for thought
What Else to Consider ?
“We also must not lose sight of critical factors including bird health and welfare, economics, food safety, worker health and safety, and the environmental impact of egg production”
- Roger Pelissero, 2023 (EFC Chair)
Decisions as big as transitioning an entire food industry aren’t solely based on animal welfare. Farmers must consider factors like the cost of new infrastructure, hen productivity, profitability, and labour requirements. For consumers, it’s a balance between affordability and ethical consumption.
Tree of Disagreement
This flow chart illustrates key positions shaping the controversy:
Click to enlarge