Every hen deserves to walk, run, explore, and spread her wings.
Join the Movement to End the Cage Age in Canada
The majority of hens in Canadian egg farms endure a life of pure agony in cruel wire cages.
Years ago, Canadians demanded an end to all cages, but the Canadian egg industry is instead making cages slightly bigger and continuing to force birds to live in intensive confinement for years. Canada is falling behind the United States and Europe in eliminating one of the industry’s cruelest practices.
Sign the petition calling on the National Farm Animal Care Council to ban all cages for hens in Canada today.
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Do Canadians know where their eggs come from?
We asked Canadians to share their thoughts about how hens are raised in Canadian egg farms. Here’s what they had to say.
Canadian Consumers Want a Cage-Free Canada
Over 80%
of Canadians surveyed agree that chickens need room to explore and exercise.
Three out of four
Canadians surveyed agree that keeping laying hens in “enriched” cages is unacceptable.
Of Canadians surveyed, 72%
stated that the National Farm Animal Care Council* should ban cage confinement of hens in its next code update in 2027.
Of Canadians surveyed, 82%
believe that restaurants and grocery stores should report progress on their cage-free egg commitments.
*The National Farm Animal Care Council is an industry-led group that develops voluntary farmed animal welfare standards in Canada.
The Painful Truth for Hens in Canada
Life in Confinement
Most hens in the Canadian egg industry spend nearly their entire lives in barren, overcrowded wire cages. Each bird is provided with floor space no larger than a sheet of legal paper.
Degraded Welfare
Caged birds are crammed so tightly together that they cannot express behaviours essential to their welfare. Running, jumping, stretching, foraging, dustbathing, and wing spreading are nearly impossible.
Physical and Mental Anguish
Cages force hens to endure painful health problems, such as foot lesions, bone loss, and liver disease. Left to just sit or stand for their entire lives, these naturally active and curious animals suffer from extreme stress and boredom.
The Cruelty of “Enriched” Cages
Enriched cages, also called “furnished” or “enriched colony housing,” are the egg industry’s response to consumer demand for an end to cages. But this alternative falls far short of what Canadian consumers expect of their food system. Hens in enriched cages suffer immensely. They are given only a few extra inches of living space and still spend their lives on wire flooring. Enriched or not, a cage is a cage.
It Doesn’t Have to Be This Way
No hen should endure the torment of being trapped in a cramped wire cage. The Canadian egg industry must join countries and states around the world in outlawing cages and allow hens the freedom to walk more than a few steps, comfortably nest, perch, forage, and spread their wings. Now is a critical moment in stopping the production of new cages of any size.
How the Industry Has Failed Hens and Consumers
Today
Now is our chance to stop enriched cages from becoming the norm in Canada’s egg industry. Over 130 companies operating in Canada have made public cage-free egg commitments. But since 2018, the percentage of hens confined to cages in the country has decreased by less than 3 percentage points, while the percentage of those living in enriched cages has increased by more than 17 percentage points.
Consumers demanded an end to cage confinement for hens in Canada. This is what the egg industry is delivering instead.
Graph illustrating the rising percentage of hens kept in enriched cages in Canada.
Enriched cages are not what Canadians asked for.
Canada Is Falling Behind
Percentage of laying hens confined in cages.
Hens Need You
Let’s end the worst suffering for hens raised for eggs. Join the movement to ban cruel confinement of hens in Canada.
Volunteer
Create powerful change for hens and connect with local advocates by becoming a volunteer.
Become a Hen Hero
Join a community of dedicated advocates who take quick, meaningful actions to urge corporations to stop the worst suffering for chickens in Canada and beyond.
Choose Plant-Based Foods
One of the most powerful ways you can help hens is by leaving eggs off your plate. Download our How to Eat Veg guide today.