The What
Why Canadian 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.
​
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 requiring the complete phase-out of conventional-style housing systems for egg-laying hens by 2036. The new legislation and guidelines require farmers to transition to alternative housing systems that meet Code of Practice regulations. Systems allowed are 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 aspects of animal welfare should be prioritized?
A person’s values and knowledge shape what they think “good” animal welfare looks like.
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.
​
​
The foundation of animal welfare is based on “The Five Freedoms”
1. Freedom from Hunger and Thirst - Access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour.
2. Freedom from Discomfort - An appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area.
3. Freedom from Pain, Injury and Disease - Prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment.
4. Freedom to Express Normal Behaviour - Sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal's own kind.
5. Freedom from Fear and Distress - Conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.
How is Animal Welfare Defined?
Types of Hen Housing
A battery cage – the conventional housing system being phased out under the NFACC’s Code of Practice – is a wired cage system that first appeared in the 1930s. It was introduced for easier management of laying hens.
​
Battery cages feature sloped floors that allow eggs to be collected at the front of the cage. Manure belts run under the cages to automate manure management and separate hens from their droppings, resulting in improved hen health and hygiene. While this design facilitates efficiency gains, the space available per hen is not large enough to permit the expression of natural behaviours like dustbathing, wing flapping, and perching.
​
Since the 1930s, laying hen management and housing system design has evolved significantly. Systems have moved beyond the “conventional” to the “alternative” (aka non-battery cage housing systems).
Here are the current hen housing options according to current Canadian regulations:
Click Here!
Comparison Table of Laying Hen Housing Systems
Housing System Descriptions pulled from:
​
- NFACC Code of Practice Appendix
- Alternative Housing: Lessons From Experienced Producers - Canadian Poultry Magazine
​
- A Description of Laying Hen Husbandry and Management Practices in Canada
Litter =
The combination of bedding, bird manure, feathers, feed, dust, and other materials on the floor of a housing system. NFACC’s Code of Practice requires the litter to be “of good quality and friable” but does not set mandatory material requirements.
​
"Friable" litter is:
1) Easy to break up
2) Less likely to mat and hold water on its surface
Hen Welfare Across Different Housing Systems
A hen's welfare sits at the centre of health, behaviour, and environment. All three work together to contribute to a hen’s level of welfare and emotional state.
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.
Why?
-
No system is perfect - Each system has trade-offs for hen welfare
-
Different types of hens respond differently to certain environments
-
How a hen is raised influences their ability to navigate a housing system as an adult
-
Management practices matter just as much as the housing system
All systems require thoughtful management by farmers to improve hen wellbeing and laying productivity (eggs laid per hen).
Housing System Overview
Battery Cage
-
Movement: Minimal
-
Environment: Empty cage
-
Group size: Small
Enriched Cage
-
Movement: Limited
-
Environment: Caged but enriched with nesting area, perches & scratch pad
-
Group size: Small to medium
Free-Run
-
Movement: Expanded
-
Environment: Indoor, open barn floor with nesting area, perches & litter
-
Group size: Large
Free-Range
-
Movement: Expanded
-
Environment: Outdoor & Indoor, open barn floor with nesting area, perches & litter
-
Group size: Large
Components of Welfare
Factors to consider:
​
-
Contact with disease sources like litter, soil, manure, wild birds, rodents, insects or parasites.
-
Access to exercise reduces risks from obesity related diseases.
-
Vaccination programs can significantly reduce the risk of viral infections.
Key takeaway: many health risks and diseases can be managed through environmental control.
Many welfare outcomes are rooted in 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
An excerpt from Stephanie and Liz’s letter
“Eggs produced in enriched cages won’t satisfy retailer requirements for cage-free eggs... It is regrettable that egg farmers still promote cages for laying hens. Whatever the alternative caging is called – ‘furnished’, ‘enriched’ or ‘colony’– it remains an unacceptable confinement system.”
- Stephanie Brown & Liz White
Kristy’s response shows her contrasting perspective
“Mortality was considerably higher in the cage-free aviary system, so why is this deemed the gold standard? I don’t understand how it is OK to accept more animals dying just to have them in more aesthetically pleasing surroundings.”
- Kirsty Nudds
These quotes from an opinion piece called “From the editor: February-March 2016” showcase the debate in action.
For context: While working as an editor for “The Poultry Magazine”, Kristy Nudds received a “Letter to the Editor” from Stephanie Brown, Director of Canadian Coalition for Farm Animals, and Liz White, Director of Animal Alliance of Canada. The contrasting perspectives demonstrate how shared animal welfare values exist across this debate, while approaches to achieving hen welfare differ widely.
The question to answer for yourself is:
Are Housing Conditions for Laying Hens in Canada Ethical?
​
Or should the egg industry fully eliminate all forms of caged housing?
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 (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.
Discussion & Engagement on Social Media
Reddit data from 2012 to 2025 show where public conversation about laying hen housing concentrates. Animal welfare and vegan perspectives dominate, but the debate reaches into economics, labeling, egg quality, and transparency — suggesting this is far from a single-issue controversy.
Tree of Disagreement
This flow chart illustrates key positions shaping the controversy:
Click to enlarge