Elsewhere in Europe, Switzerland has banned the building of new battery cages after 1991 and given existing producers ten years to phase out existing battery farms. Sweden will effect a similar ban in 1998. Eggs from battery hens do not have to be labelled as such. The intensive overcrowding and barren environment faced by battery hens means they are prone to a wide range of welfare and disease problems. The resulting frustration and stress leads to aggressive behaviour such as feather-pecking and cannibalism.
Cages prevent hens from dust-bathing.
Despite this, caged hens will attempt to dustbathe on the wire floors or on other birds. This is called vacuum dustbathing. Such stereotyped behaviour is common amongst battery hens. Pecking and scratching for food is also impossible. Hens naturally spend a great deal of time pecking at objects.