Cramped cages for hens on way out

The Government is set to phase out layer cages to make conditions for hens more humane.

Parliament's regulations review committee has recommended that the layer hen code be rewritten to comply with the Animal Welfare Act, and for a date be set for the phasing-out of current layer hen cages.

Hens cannot turn around or even stretch their wings in layer hen cages, says Green Party MP Sue Kedgley.

"It's a travesty that such cruel kinds of cages should be permitted at all under the Animal Welfare Act," said Ms Kedgley, who sat on the hearings into a complaint from the Animal Rights Legal Advocacy Network about the layer hen code.