Petition · past parliament · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Increase the minimum usable cage area per laying hen from 600cm² to 1,693cm²
Closed
62 signatures
What the petition asks
Laying hens are legally allowed to be kept in 'enriched' cages together, the total area of the cage must be so that each hen has 600cm² usable space. We believe it is inhumane to keep these sentient animals in their current conditions, and the minimum usable space should be increased to 1,693cm².
For context: the area of an A4 sheet of paper is 624cm². Research has found that hens require 1,316 (± 23) cm² to turn around and 1,693 (± 136) cm² to stretch their wings (Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579119360699#:~:text=The%20floor%20space%20required%20per,2%20(87%20in2)%5D).
Animal welfare is more important than the profit margins of big egg producers. Egg producers already keeping their hens in conditions which allow them to turn around and stretch their wings would not be affected.
Animal welfare is more important than the profit margins of big egg producers. Egg producers already keeping their hens in conditions which allow them to turn around and stretch their wings would not be affected.
Timeline
| 19 Jul 2021 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 19 Jan 2022 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
62
Status
Closed
Department
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Opened
19 Jul 2021
Closed
19 Jan 2022
Follow this petition
Sign in to get an email when the government responds, a debate is scheduled or held, or the petition closes.
Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.