The Vegetarian Society at Parliament in support of 'End the Cage Age'
Jenny Canham, our Public Affairs Lead recently attended an evening in parliament in support of the ‘End the Cage Age’ campaign. With poultry welfare high on our list of priorities, we were pleased to be invited to also lend our support to this important topic. The Event was hosted by Irene Campbell MP, and brought together people and organisations like us, who support the campaign and urge the government to finally ban the use of cruel cages for hens and all animals.
What is the End the Cage Age campaign?
More than 7 million hens are confined to cages in the UK every year. Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) is campaigning to end this practice in the UK – as has already happened (or will soon happen) in several other European countries.
Chickens need space to move around in order to live their normal lives. Most cages are no bigger than an a4 size piece of paper, giving each hen nowhere near enough space to move around and carry out their natural behaviours. Chickens need to dustbathe themselves, forage, clean their wings and simply move around. In cages, this is simply impossible.
Enriched cages are already banned in Austria, and will be in Germany next year. The Czech Republic will ban cages in 2027, and Slovenia in 2029. The UK risks falling behind on animal welfare if we do not take similar steps.
What is the Ban Hatch and Dispatch campaign about?
If you are a subscriber to our newsletter, or have even signed our petition, this may remind you of our Ban Hatch and Dispatch campaign. Unfortunately, there are many similarities between both campaigns, which highlights the need for action on poultry welfare in the UK.
Ban Hatch and Dispatch is our campaign to end the practice of killing male chicks immediately after birth. Like the End the Cage Age campaign, our work is inspired by compassion towards chickens, whose lives are so often damaged by an industry that prioritises profits over animal welfare.
How can I get involved?
Both campaigns have petitions you can sign:
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