In July 2023, all states and territories endorsed new national Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Poultry which, thanks to an independent expert panel, included a deadline to phase out battery cages. But most state governments are yet to legislate the agreed phase-out date to #CantheCage in their state. Australia will only be cage free when state bans are in place.
Why we need to act now
No animal should be forced to live in a battery cage. Hens suffer terribly in the cramped wire cages, denied their most basic natural behaviours like nesting, dustbathing and foraging. Due to lack of exercise and having to produce so many eggs, layer hens are prone to osteoporosis leading to painful broken bones. Meanwhile caged egg producers want to stall the phase out of cages claiming it’s a safe housing system that protects hens from bird flu. This is unfounded fearmongering. Bird flu has impacted millions of hens across the world regardless of the housing system. Please tell your state agriculture minister to do the right thing and legislate to #CanTheCage in your state as soon as possible.
Do you live in the ACT or the NT? Good news! You don’t have any battery cages in your territory! But you can still help by sharing this campaign with any family and friends in other states.
And for those of you who live in Western Australia, we are delighted that the Cook Government has legislated the phase out of battery cages. But don’t let this news pass by. You can still take the action and your letter will thank the WA minister.
