Australians want hens to be able to stretch their wings. Hens should be able to walk on solid ground, forage, and nest – but most state governments have yet to lock in an end date for cruel battery cages.

New investigation footage from the Open Wing Alliance shows hens on Australian egg farms still spending every waking minute of their short, painful lives peering through the same cage bars, seeking comfort they will never find on the hard wire floors.

Can you remind Agriculture Ministers that Australians haven’t forgotten about them?

This is ‘life’ for hens in Australian cage-egg farms. The Open Wing Alliance has launched the world’s largest-ever investigation into cage-egg production, revealing the reality for hens in farms across the globe, including Australia. Credit: Animally / Open Wing Alliance / We Animals

Two years ago, Australian Agriculture Ministers finally agreed to ban battery cages – a milestone only made possible by the many thousands of compassionate Australians who spoke up for hens during the Poultry Code Review. It was the strongest show of public concern for an animal welfare issue the Australian Government had ever seen.

The next step is for Agricultural Ministers to solidify this historic commitment in state regulations; so far, only Western Australia and the ACT have taken action. While the 2032-2036 phase-out timeline that ministers agreed to is far too long, most state governments haven’t even locked in the definitive end date for cages.

Every year of delay means millions more hens will be condemned to lives of suffering without their most basic needs met. Please urge your state leaders to finally draw a line under this cruelty.

The state Agriculture Ministers’ agreed phase out deadline of 2032-2036 condemns another 55 million hens to ‘life’ in a cage.

Over the past two decades, caring consumers making kinder choices have led to fewer hens being confined in battery cages in Australia – but hidden behind the walls of factory farms, too many hens are still suffering in our food system.

This is because the demand for cage eggs remains; they aren’t only sold in cartons but also used as ingredients in products such as baked goods, pasta, sauces, and other processed foods. Check the labels of products on supermarket shelves, and you might be surprised at how many products contain eggs!

Strengthening laws for animals is important, but consumers wield the real power when it comes to creating urgent and lasting change.

It is clear that Australia’s laws have not caught up with the values of Australians. Hens and other farmed animals are being bred into food systems that value them only for what their bodies can produce, but we can instead choose to see them for who they are – sensitive individuals who desire safety, comfort and connection. When we shift our thinking, and our choices, we can transform their world.

You have the power to help hens today by learning about delicious and nutritious egg-free cooking. Head to our egg-free guide here, and if you haven’t already, order your free guide to compassionate eating!