From the day they hatch until the day they are violently killed, the lives of egg-laying hens are filled with misery and deprivation. A new Mercy For Animals undercover investigation has exposed revolting cruelty to animals in the rotten egg industry.
Thousands of hens crammed inside cages so small the birds couldn’t freely walk, spread their wings, or rest comfortably
Birds trapped in cage wire or under feed troughs, trampled by their cage mates and unable to reach food and water
Dead hens rotted beyond recognition left in cages with hens still laying eggs for human consumption
Birds with swollen eyes, bleeding prolapses, extreme feather loss, and other serious afflictions denied proper veterinary care
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“The unhygienic nature of this facility is obvious throughout the footage … Everything about battery cage facilities is detrimental to the health and wellbeing of the chickens housed there which, even to the untrained eye, is obvious in this footage.” Dr. Adele Lloyd “I was shocked to find such horrifying cruelty and neglect towards these birds ... crammed in an area so small that each hen is unable to spread her wings without rubbing up against other birds in the cage.” Dr. Armaiti May “Battery cage confinement of laying hens is nothing short of torture. The most essential instincts of the birds are frustrated by the intense confinement, which does not even allow the birds to spread their wings.” Dr. Lee Schrader “The space allotment in battery cages is so restrictive that hens cannot express their natural behaviour, and these normally active, curious animals suffer from deprivation and lack of movement and exercise.” Dr. Sara Shields “The battery cages are overcrowded to the point where hens cannot spread their wings without hitting another hen or the cage bars. … They live in a chronic, unyielding, and inescapable state of severe deprivation and stress.” Dr. Debra Teachout “[The video] showed typical old layers with poor feather condition.…because they are bred to put all their resources into their eggs. Certain white genetic lines of layers have welfare issues caused by selection for maximum production.” Dr. Temple Grandin |
EXPLORE THE
HIDDEN LIVES OF HENS
HIDDEN LIVES OF HENS
Just like most animals, hens like to stay clean. They do this by using their wings to pass dust from the ground through their feathers, shaking it off, and then repeating. This “dustbathing” prevents oil buildup, skin irritation, and disease. |
Although chickens are highly social animals, they also like their privacy. Driven by an instinct to hide their eggs from predators, when ready to lay eggs, most hens prefer to be solitary nesters. |
Chickens are highly intelligent animals with excellent memories. Studies show chickens can recognize the faces of up to 100 individual birds. Like dogs, chickens have even been known to learn and respond to their names. |
The best way for individual consumers to help end this cruelty is to leave animals off their plate entirely.