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Tell New Zealand No More Battery Cages
  1. Signatures
    1,358 out of 1,500
    Petitioning
    1. Ministry of Agriculture (+ 1 other)
      Petitioning
      close
      • Ministry of Agriculture (David Carter)
      • NAWAC Submissions
  2. Created By
    R E
    Minneapolis, MN
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates

The National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee of New Zealand recently introduced a proposal that would eliminate all current hen battery cages and replace them with "enriched" cages.

Sounds like a great idea ... until you look into what "enriched" really means. The new cages will be nothing more than a slightly larger battery cage. Each hen will receive just a few more inches of room. 

Enriched cages will still prohibit hens from practicing behaviors that come naturally to them. They will still be subjected to injuries to their skin and feet, osteoporosis and muscle weakness.

Enriched cages are so inhumane, countries in Europe have banned them due to animal cruelty. 

Sign the petition to send a letter to the Minister of Agriculture and the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee telling them enriched cages aren't enough and a total ban on cage systems is needed. 

 

Photo credit: CALM Action

Why People Are Signing
Recent Signatures

Please Implement a Phase-Out System to Ban All Hen Cages

Greetings,

I write you in opposition of the Draft Code for Animal Welfare concerning layer hens and ask you to ban all types of hen cages.

As you know, the new code will require current battery cages to be replaced with enriched cages. However, the new cages are not acceptable and are still inhumane.

The new cages will still provide each hen a space smaller than an A4 sheet of paper. Enriched cages prohibit hens from practicing natural behaviors and subject them to injuries and disease caused by confinement and lack of exercise.

Enriched cages are already banned in parts of Europe because they violate animal cruelty laws. I do not agree with battery cages or enriched cages.

Nearly 80 percent of people in a recent poll believed battery cages were cruel and support a ban. Additionally, the same percentage would gladly pay higher prices for eggs if the eggs were produced by humanely treated, cage-free hens.

The most humane option for layer hens is a cage-free environment. Implementing a cage-free system is not only economical, but largely supported by the public.

Please act humanely and set an example of animal welfare by phasing out battery cages.

Thank you.

[Your name]

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