June 16, 2010

Hens housed in battery cages in Europe fell from 74.4 to 71% between 2008 and 2009.

According to market research by MEG, 29% of the total number of hens was housed in alternative systems.

Of the alternatively housed hens in 2009, 17.1% were places in conventional free-range stalls (which was 14.3% in 2008). The percentage of total hens that also had an outside area was 9.2% of the entire EU hen population (8.9% in 2008). The proportion of organically raised hens was 2.7% of all EU hens in 2009 (2.5% in 2008).

The share of alternative housing systems for laying hens varies widely between countries. This was 95% in Austria and 63% in Germany last year. Since the beginning of 2010, all German hens are housed in an alternative housing system. In Sweden, 61% of laying hens sat in an alternative system last year. In South and Eastern European countries, the majority of laying hens are still housed in battery cages.

Battery cages will be banned in Europe beginning 2012.