Compassion in World Farming has launched a social media advertising campaign, aimed at mobilising consumer pressure on Defra to legislate against caged systems for laying hens.
The six-week campaign, which began on Friday 10 October, features an animation that contrasts the life of a caged hen with one that has more freedom to engage in natural behaviours like flapping, perching and dustbathing.
The initiative forms part of the organisation’s wider programme to end caged farming across the UK and Europe.
Consumers are encouraged to contact Defra directly to call for ban on cages for hens.
“Legislation is essential to ensure a level playing field,” said Tracey Jones, global director of food business at CIWF. “Without it, responsible businesses – those moving towards or already using cage-free systems – risk being undercut by less committed competitors and cheap, lower-welfare imports.
Currently seven million hens, equivalent to 18% of UK egg production, are still in cages.
“This campaign is about showing Defra that consumer demand is strong and growing,” said Jones. “Cage-free legislation will ensure the entire sector moves forward together, ending outdated practices and supporting UK businesses that prioritise animal welfare.”
It comes as the Open Wing Alliance has released its Fair and Fowl 2025 Cage-Free Egg Report, which evaluates companies with global cage-free egg commitments across five sectors – hospitality, manufacturers, restaurants, foodservice and retailers.
The report distinguishes the ‘Early Birds’ that are honouring their promises, from the ‘Bad Eggs’ that remain complicit in cage-free laying hens.
It has revealed that 92% of all corporate cage-free eggs commitments with public deadlines of 2024 or earlier now fulfilled.
However, The Humane League said the few that were falling behind stood out for failing to deliver the progress and accountability consumers increasingly expected.
“The cage-free movement continues to gain global momentum, yet stark contrasts remain between companies honouring their commitments and those still stalling,” said Hannah Surowinski, senior associate director of global corporate relations at The Humane League.
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