Across Indiana, millions of egg-laying hens are locked in wire cages so small they can’t even spread their wings. These battery cages cram animals into conditions so unnatural and stressful that hens often live in their own waste, suffer physical injuries, and have part of their beaks seared off just to prevent them from pecking in frustration.

While 11 other states—including conservative-led states like Utah and Arizona—have passed bans on cage confinement, Indiana still allows this outdated and inhumane practice. The science is clear, and so is the public sentiment: battery cages are inherently cruel. There is no ethical justification for denying a living animal the ability to walk, perch, or lay her eggs in a nest.

 Many of Indiana’s family farmers already use higher-welfare systems—and they’re proof that compassionate farming is not only possible, it’s sustainable.

Cage-free systems aren’t perfect, but they are a meaningful step forward. They give hens space to move, socialize, and express basic behaviors. The difference in animal welfare is real—and it matters.

We’re calling on the Indiana General Assembly and Governor Mike Braun to pass legislation banning the use of cages for egg-laying hens. This is about aligning Indiana’s laws with basic decency, consumer values, and the standards of modern agriculture.

Sign the petition today and demand that Indiana stop the cruelty.