The intensive system of animal husbandry for laying hens, known as battery cages, has inherent problems for the hens welfare. Battery cages are unsuited to the physical and behavioural needs of hens and cause considerable suffering.
Caged hens suffer feather damage.
Caged hens are routinely debeaked. This causes chronic pain for their entire life. Caged hens may be deprived of food and water. Intensive farmers induce hens to moult simultaneously, shorten the time of moulting and attempt to raise production in the second year of laying. These practices may mean withholding water for up to 24 hours and withholding food for up to 48 hours.