‘Cage eggs’ are on the way out in Australia, but what does that really mean for hens and consumers?

Australians love eggs, consuming on average about 260 per person each year. 

But the source of those eggs has become a contentious issue, with increasing numbers of consumers saying they are concerned about the living conditions of laying hens.

These concerns culminated in a decision last week by state and territory leaders to endorse the new Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines.

The document not only sets out how commercial laying hens are to be treated, but also how other birds grown commercially — including pigeons, partridges and ostriches — are to be farmed.

Predictably, much of the focus has been on a decision to phase out “conventional cages” for laying hens by 2036. 

But that doesn’t mean no cages, it just means slightly bigger cages.

Currently, the minimum “space allowance” per hen in a cage farming system is 550cm2 per bird — or about 18 hens per m2.

That size allowance is set to increase to 750cm2 of “usable space per bird” if there are two or more birds in a cage, or 1,000cm2 if just one bird is kept in a single cage. 

From this year, all new cages will also need to have nesting areas, access to perches or platforms, and an area where the birds can scratch. 

When these changes will be made depends on when the existing farming system was installed.

Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said by 2036 this would be the new standard, but the time frame for phasing out the old cages was up to individual states and territories to implement.

Demand for free range eggs continues to grow. (ABC Rural: Tim Fookes)

The case for and against caged eggs

Australia has long been criticised for being slow to reform rules around commercial egg farming.

Europe introduced similar reforms in 1999 for example, and 30 of the 36 nations of the OECD have either already phased out battery cages, or are in the process of doing so.

“Battery cages” first began to be used about 50 years ago. They are small wire enclosures, roughly 50 centimetres square,  where groups of hens live out their days laying eggs onto sloped wire floors. 

The egg industry says there a number of benefits to using cages – it’s a controlled environment where the hens rarely get sick and are safe from predators.

Eggs produced in cages also have a lower carbon footprint, according to peak body Australian Eggs.

The RSPCA, however, has long called for an end to keeping hens in cages, stating that the environment limits a hen’s ability to move freely and perform its natural behaviours.

It says the practice is cruel, and the lack of physical movement can sometimes “cripple” hens.

And consumer trends show a move away from caged eggs, with demand for “free range” eggs continuing to grow.

According to Australian Eggs, free range is the most popular category of eggs at supermarkets, making up almost 50 per cent of total sales.

However, while homemade scrambled eggs might be free range, the eggs you eat in a takeaway brekkie roll, may not be. 

Consumers will be able to check the stocking density, production method and origin of their eggs.   (Supplied: Australian Eggs)

What about price and supply?

There is concern from some in the egg industry that plans to phase out “conventional cages” could lead to a shortage of eggs and higher prices.

New Zealand, for example, has phased out caged eggs, and is now reportedly struggling with supply.

Senator Watt has said there won’t be any major price increase according to government modelling, with the updated standards resulting in the average consumer paying about $1.51 more per year.

Supermarkets are moving towards selling free-range eggs only. (ABC News: Jo Prendergast)

Major supermarket retailers Coles, Woolworths and Aldi have all pledged to phase out or ban battery cages from their supply chains by 2025.

But making the change will take time and cost money, with some egg producers and advocates saying they will need financial support to transition their farms to meet the new standards.

Farm fresh, pasture-raised, barn-laid, free range?

As consumer demand for better treatment of animals has grown, so too have the categories of eggs available, and it can be hard to know exactly what you’re buying.

Free range eggs come from hens that live in sheds and can access the outdoors.

There are now national free range egg laws requiring that hens have “meaningful and regular access” to the outdoors during the day and are free to forage. 

There can be a maximum of 10,000 hens per hectare, roughly one hen per square metre.

The CSIRO’s Model Code of Practice recommends a maximum 1,500 hens per hectare.

When selling a carton of eggs, the producer must also “prominently state” their stocking density on egg cartons.

Retailers who sell eggs at markets must also declare their stocking density.

Pasture-raised eggs are a type of free range product, involving lower stocking rates and rotating hens across open paddocks via movable sheds.

Caged eggs are eggs produced from hens living in cages inside climate-controlled sheds.

Barn-laid eggs are also known as cage-free eggs. These eggs are laid by hens who live freely inside sheds without cages.

There are a number of other egg categories with more information here.

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