Since January 1, 2012, a European directive has banned so-called "conventional" cages. A first step forward welcomed by the 30 Millions d'Amis Foundation, which works alongside the PMAF * to improve the living conditions of laying hens.
A better future for laying hens Industrial laying hen farms are regularly criticized by animal welfare advocates. In Europe, 80% of them live in small wire cages, aligned in batteries on several levels - up to 8 floors - in blind hangars that can simultaneously contain up to 70 birds. To live, each hen has a surface similar to an A000 format sheet (ie 4 cm²)! Mutilations, fractures, loss of feathers, stereotypical behavior, illnesses ... the consequences are disastrous. A European directive, which came into force on January 550, 1, has therefore been adopted by member states to improve industrial farming.
"Express their natural needs"
From now on, it is in so-called "converted" cages that the hens will be raised. The characteristics are as follows: a space of at least 750 cm² per hen, the provision of a nest, litter and a perch, or a feed trough at least 12 cm long per hen and access to a drinking trough. Arrangements far from trivial: "Laying hens must be able to express their natural behavior, such as the need to spread their wings" recalls the PMAF * on its dedicated site.
Adequate provisions for these animals, which have the habit of feeding on scratching or pecking the ground, building a nest, perching or even taking dust baths. "Chickens form complex social relationships with their congeners, and can recognize up to 80 individuals, including humans," continues the PMAF.
France, a bad student?
But behind all this progress, hides a political reality that MEPs have understood: according to them, "30% of EU egg production will probably not respect the ban on unmanaged cages by the 1st January 2012 ”, failing to have anticipated the implementation of the directive ordering the prohibition of conventional cages, adopted in ... 1999! France, alongside countries such as Spain or Poland, is among the poor students of Europe, and the Ministry of Agriculture has to subsidize the farms concerned. Great Britain, Germany and Austria have already been on the new standards for several years. According to the European Commission, and only for France, 6 million gallinaceae out of 43 million - or one hen out of 7 - do not yet benefit from these new developments.
If the directive is going in the right direction, the progress it advocates is nonetheless to be put into perspective: the additional space which each hen will now have represents barely more than the surface of a postcard. And despite these advances, the fate of laying hens in industrial farms is far from enviable: "This is a minimal improvement compared to the complex needs of laying hens" concludes the PMAF.
The 30 Million Friends Foundation, which works to improve the living conditions of farm animals alongside the PMAF, also provides everyone with comprehensive information for responsible consumption of eggs.
* World Farm Animal Protection
http://www.30millionsdamis.fr/acces-special/actualites/detail/article/3975-un-avenir-meilleur-pour-les-poules-pondeuses.html
From now on the battery hens will not have 550cm2 to survive in their cages but 750cm2 (sic!) ... progress in terms of respect for life is definitely very long to put in place ...