N.Z. Bans Caged Eggs

It is now law! NZ bans caged chickens for the production of eggs. We’re all pleased — Yes?

I must say, Aotearoa New Zealand’s ban on caged chickens for eggs is a fantastic example of a classic PR move. It’s all just a façade, a show put on to appease the masses and make us believe that they do care about the welfare of animals.

Of course, I fully support the ban — don’t get me wrong.

Let’s start with the obvious: it’s not like the government just woke up one day and decided to ban caged chickens out of the goodness of their hearts. No, this was a calculated move, a response to public pressure fuelled by media and animal rights activists (me included!). And even then, the ban only applies to the small cages, the chickens can be transferred into the Colony style cage, which can take up to 60 and 80 hens. This allows each hen the size of an A4 piece of paper so the chickens will still suffer in their cramped, miserable quarters.

According to the spin, these cages are equipped with “furnishings” like nest boxes, perches and scratch pads. But, whichever way you look at it, they’re still in a wire cage.

The ban was set in place in 2012, giving the farmers ten years to sort their act out. Many invested money into the Colony system only to be recently…