A Compassion Over Killing Report:
Animal Suffering in the Egg Industry
Conclusion
Rescued by COK
The egg industry holds that laying hens are humanely raised
and truly content in battery cages. An article entitled "Perspective"
in Egg Industry magazine stated that "today we have a
252 egg average cycle, and that's ordinary. Can you imagine
unhappy chickens laying that many eggs?"(87)
However, Dr. Mench says, "It is now generally agreed
that good productivity and health are not necessarily indicators
of good welfare….[I]ndividual animals may be in a comparatively
poor state of welfare even though productivity within the
unit may be high."(88)
Ken Klippen, spokesperson for the United Egg Producers, stated
in a television interview, "The research showed it was
humane to have chickens in cages. In fact, they would prefer
to be in cages."(89) In
fact, no published studies could be found supporting this
claim. There is an abundance of research, much of it cited
in this report, demonstrating that hens kept in battery cages
experience greatly reduced welfare.
Indeed, these birds are more intensively confined than any
other farmed animal and endure an immense amount of suffering.
