Most

eggs in india

come from hens

trapped in tiny cages.

Key Information

On factory farms, efficiency is everything. Battery cages are designed to maximise egg output while using minimal space, enabling more hens per square foot.

Unfortunately, this focus on efficiency comes at the expense of hens’ physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.

Ethical options are available, such as cage-free housing. Here, hens are not confined in cages and are given the freedom to move, spread their wings, engage in natural behaviour like nesting, perching, socialising, dust-bathing, etc.

Food companies - including hotels, restaurants, manufacturers, and caterers - hold significant influence over the egg industry's practices due to their large-scale purchasing power.

By committing to sourcing cage-free eggs, these companies can set a clear demand for higher-welfare practices, encouraging producers to adopt ethical standards. On the other hand, choosing caged eggs signals acceptance of inhumane practices, reinforcing and sustaining cruelty within the industry.

The life of a caged hen

My Life Begins Here
Hours after hatching, my beak was painfully cut off without anesthesia to stop me from pecking others in the crowded space I will soon be placed in.
A Cage Becomes My World
I live my entire life in a cramped cage where I cannot spread my wings, walk, or perch. My cage is so crowded that I often stand on the bodies of others who couldn’t survive these conditions.
No Rest, No Relief
Constant artificial light forces me to lay eggs endlessly, and my body is pushed beyond exhaustion.
The Toll on My Feet
The wire floors of my cage cut into my feet. Without space to move or scratch, my nails grow painfully long and deformed, sometimes trapping me in the cage bars. I can barely stand.
Feather Loss
My feathers fall out from the stress and overcrowding, leaving me exposed and sore.
Frustration, Boredom, and Stress
In the wild, I would forage, roam, and engage with others. But in this cage, I am deprived of everything that fulfills my natural instincts, and am left with nothing to do.
I am in constant pain
The cramped cages force us to trample each other, causing painful injuries and fractures. With no space to move, my spine weakens and can collapse, leaving me paralyzed and unable to reach food or water.
My Health is Ignored
The filthy conditions here spread disease, and many of us suffer and die unnoticed.
These Awful Conditions Are a Risk to Us and You
The conditions allow diseases to thrive and can even spread to humans.
I Am Not Alone
Crores of hens like me endure this suffering every day. It doesn’t have to be this way. By speaking up for us, you can help create a world where we are treated with care and respect.

Switching to cage-free housing reduces disabling pain by 63% hurtful pain by 57% annoying pain by 70%

of Indians

64%

prefer to buy eggs from hens not housed in cages.

Of respondents

71.9%

stated they don’t want hens to suffer.

So what can food companies do?

Commit to ONLY using cage-free eggs

Make a public pledge to completely switch to cage-free eggs within a specified timeframe

Make good on their commitment

A promise on paper is not enough. Companies need to actively start buying cage-free eggs

Publicly report their progress

Regularly publish reports to share progress in switching to cage-free eggs