What is Cage-Free?

Cage-free refers to a farming system where hens are not kept in small, confined cages (battery cages). Instead, they are provided with a larger indoor space where they can move around more freely, engage in natural behaviors like nesting, foraging, and perching, and have access to an environment that allows for more social interaction.

Cage-free systems can include various types of housing, such as aviaries, barn systems, or floor systems, where hens are housed in a barn-like structure without individual cages. This approach is generally considered to offer better animal welfare compared to traditional caged systems. In addition to improved animal welfare, cage-free system have several other benefits:

1) Better Socialization and healthier hens: Hens in cage-free systems can interact with one another more freely, which can reduce stress and promote more natural social behaviors. Hens in cage-free systems often experience fewer health issues related to confinement, such as bone deformities and muscle atrophy.

2) Enhanced Environmental Enrichment: Cage-free systems often provide environmental enrichments like nesting boxes and perches, which can stimulate natural behaviors and reduce boredom.

3) Transparency and Traceability: Cage-free systems certified to HFAC may offer better traceability and transparency in farming practices, giving consumers more confidence in the treatment of animals.

4) Support for Sustainable Farming: Cage-free farms may encourage more sustainable farming practices and is aligned with broader movements toward more ethical and sustainable food systems.Choosing cage-free systems supports more higher welfare farming practices and aligns with ethical concerns about animal treatment.

5) Hens get to be hens: Chickens are highly social, active, curious animals who need more than a tiny cage to have good quality of life. Cage-free hens can ground peck, scratch and dustbathe, choose a private enclosed nesting site in which to lay their eggs and rest comfortably on perches at night. These are essential behavior patterns for the welfare of a hen.

Overall, cage-free systems offer better living conditions for hens, which aligns with ethical and welfare concerns.