News Blog Supporter guide for consultation on proposal to phase out the use of cages for hens in Scotland 25-04-24 Will you show your support for a phase out to cages for egg-laying hens and mother pigs? The Scottish Government has proposed to phase out cages for laying hens and 'gamebirds'. This is very welcome news, and we are supportive of these proposals, however, they are not consulting on a phase out of farrowing crates for mother pigs. This is despite the Government’s previous Programme for Government commitment to do so. Please respond to the consultation using our handy step-by-step guide. It should only take 15 minutes of your time. We have provided guidance to respond in favour of a phase out of cages for laying hens, whilst also calling on the Government to consult on phasing out farrowing crates too. Supporter guide Respond to the consultation Questions The consultation is divided into sections. Please respond to the questions under Animal welfare and Policy proposal, which we have provided suggested responses for below. Please also ensure that you have completed the ‘About You’ section at the end, for your response to count. We would encourage you to please personalise your responses to have a greater impact. Q1. a) Do you think that a ban on cages and a move to non-cage systems will allow birds to better express their normal behaviours? We suggest answering Yes. We strongly support a ban on cages for animal welfare purposes. Since barren battery cages were banned, ‘enriched’ cages are used. While these have a few features that slightly improve welfare, they still do not meet hens’ most fundamental needs. Q1. b) Please explain your answer to Q1. a). You may wish to mention the following: Hens kept in these cages have their natural behaviours extremely limited as they cannot run, fly or even experience fresh air and sunlight. Hens in enriched cage systems are only allocated a space a little more than an A4 piece of paper, which is extremely restrictive. Hens are strongly motivated to dustbathe, often at the same time as other hens. While enriched cages provide litter for dustbathing, due to the size of the cages, there is not enough space for sufficient litter to allow each individual hen to dustbathe daily. Only a few hens can dustbathe at any one time and birds lower down in the social hierarchy may struggle for opportunities to access the litter. Some hens may lay their eggs in the dustbathing area, due to limited space, meaning that dustbathing is not possible. Hens naturally carry out comfort behaviours, such as wing flapping and stretching, and body shaking. The space allocated per hen in enriched cages is too small to allow birds to carry out these natural behaviours adequately. Hens need to be able to perch up high, to feel safe from predation and bullying. This is not possible in a cage. Hens are strongly motivated to explore, forage and peck. Due to the size and environment of these cages, this is not possible. Q2. a) Do you think that housing birds in non-cage systems will improve other welfare outcomes in addition to normal behaviours? We suggest answering Yes. Non-cage systems provide further welfare benefits in addition to normal behaviours. Q2. b) Please explain your answer to Q2. a). You may wish to mention the following: Injurious feather pecking is the result of stress and frustration when hens cannot explore, forage and seek comfort as they would like, and can have severe welfare implications. While feather pecking can occur in other systems, it occurs at high rates in cages and there are no changes that can be made within cages to prevent it. Enriched cage systems are a form of intensive indoor farming, which means the birds are not able to experience natural daylight or fresh air throughout their lives. Enriched cages lack complexity and interest and restrict the control that hens have over their environment, negatively impacting their mental state Hens that are ‘bullied’ by other hens are not able to avoid dominant hens in cages, which can cause considerable distress and suffering. Hens in enriched cage systems may have weak muscles and bones due to a lack of movement, given the lack of adequate space afforded to each hen. This can contribute to painful bone fractures. Q3. a) Do you agree with our proposal to introduce a ban on the installation of new enriched cages across the laying hen sector (laying hens, pullets and breeder layers) in 2030? We suggest answering Yes. Q3. b) Please explain your answer to Q3. a). A ban is necessary as the welfare needs of any hen cannot be met in a cage. Q4. a) Do you agree that a 10-year transition period, starting in 2024 to a full ban on enriched cages in Scotland across the laying hen sector in 2034 (laying hens, pullets and breeder layers) is the right phase in period? We suggest answering No, it is too long. Q4. b) Please explain your answer to Q4. a). We suggest that you mention that you support the Scottish Government’s option 1 to ban enriched cages in Scotland by 2030. The suffering inflicted upon egg-laying hens in enriched cage systems is a considerable welfare concern. Farmed animals deserve good lives, and at the very least, lives worth living. Further, Scotland cannot call itself a Good Food Nation while farmed animals remain in cages. You may wish to note that we should not delay a ban on cages, and that due to the suffering of animals in enriched cage systems, you support the 6-year transition period, as opposed to the proposed 10-year transition period. Q5. a) Do you agree with the proposal to ban (barren) battery cages in 2030: for smaller scale commercial units or hobby-keepers with fewer than 350 laying hens? We suggest answering Yes. Q5. b) Please explain your answer to Q5. a) The welfare needs of any hen cannot be met in a cage, regardless of the scale of the operation. Q6. a) Do you agree with the proposal to ban (barren) battery cages in 2030: for breeder layers? We suggest answering Yes. Q6. b Please explain your answer to Q6. a) The welfare needs of any hen cannot be met in a cage, including ‘breeder layers’. Q7. a) Do you agree with the proposal to ban (barren) battery cages in 2030: for pullets? We suggest answering Yes. Q7. b) Please explain your answer to Q7. a) The welfare needs of pullets cannot be met in a cage. You do not need to respond to the other sections, except Q25 in the Further comments section. Q25 provides an opportunity to pressure the Scottish Government to also consult on a phase out to farrowing crates for pigs. Q25. Please provide any further considerations you feel should be noted when considering this policy proposal. Please explain your answer. We strongly support these proposals but are very disappointed that they are also not consulting on phasing out farrowing crates for sows. Sows suffer tremendously in farrowing crates. You may wish to highlight the following welfare issues: Sows are unable to turn around or move beyond lying down and standing up, sometimes with difficulty, as the crate is barely bigger than their own body. She cannot build a nest for her piglets, which she is strongly motivated to do, nor interact with or care for her piglets (beyond allowing them to suckle through bars). She may also get painful sores from lying on a hard surface and painful bites because selection for ‘productivity’ has led to litters than have more piglets than teats, creating competition to nurse. She will be very stressed and frustrated. You may also wish to mention some of the following points: The Scottish Government has previously committed to consult on a phase out of farrowing crates for pigs in its 2021-2022 Programme for Government. It is imperative that the Government uphold its commitment. The Scottish Government has commented that it wants to bring welfare standards in line with wider public values. The majority of Scots support an end to farrowing crates and yet the Government is not upholding its commitment to consult on their phase out. Respond to the consultation Thank you for taking the time to demonstrate your support for a phase out to cages for egg-laying hens and mother pigs.