Nutritional deficiencies or restricted access to feed are often the initial triggers that lead hens to start feather pecking and eventually cannibalism, but they are not the only causes. 

Excessive lighting, lack of space and hygiene, inadequate housing, or aggression can also act as stress factors that induce pecking behavior.

When birds are raised under proper conditions, with adequate nutrition, sufficient space, and ensured welfare, they are free to express natural and healthy behaviors.

Continue reading to learn how to prevent cannibalism in laying hens and understand the importance of following animal welfare requirements.

Warning signs that hens may develop cannibalistic behavior

Just as multiple factors can stress laying hens to the point of cannibalism, there are also clear signs that indicate when birds may be developing this abnormal behavior. Producers should watch for: 

• Sudden changes in flock management, including staff changes;
• Downy feathers appearing on the dorsal tail area, or broken feathers on the tail, wings, or behind the head;
• Competition for feed and water at feeders and drinkers; 
• Declining egg production;
• Birds living in excessive dirt or showing body wounds; 
• Birds with more abdominal fat than normal;
• Restricted or prevented access to outdoor areas in free-range systems (birds may become frustrated when confined indoors).

Individually or together, these signs indicate that essential management practices may be inadequate.

The earlier feather pecking is detected, the lower the production losses and welfare impacts. If no action is taken, the situation can escalate into severe cannibalism.

How to prevent this behavior

One effective way to prevent cannibalism is to follow an animal welfare program such as Certified Humane®, which helps: 

• Prevent lice, parasites, and diseases;
• Keep dogs and other predators away from the flock;
• Provide a balanced diet in adequate quantities;
• Maintain clean housing free of sharp objects, excessive lighting, and improper temperatures;
• Provide sufficient bedding, perches, feeders, and drinkers for all birds;
• Ensure trained staff handle birds calmly and carefully;
• Perform minimal beak trimming if necessary, in accordance with animal welfare standards;

These measures are essential for cage-free poultry production throughout all life stages, ensuring proper management and preventing stress-induced behavioral changes such as cannibalism.

Importance of following welfare requirements for hens

Clear, objective, and purpose-driven, welfare requirements for laying hens provide producers with a compassionate production standard to follow.

Internationally proven, the Certified Humane® animal welfare standard improves animals’ lives while producing high-quality products.

→ Laying hen production: learn the requirements for pullet rearing and flock management.

Brazil has already reached the mark of 49 billion eggs produced, according to the Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA). Most of this production still comes from cage confinement systems, and there are many questions about how to raise cage-free laying hens. However, the truth is that this production method, which prioritizes animal welfare, is simpler than most people imagine.

The cage-free laying hen system eliminates any type of cage confinement. In this model, birds are housed in barns with access to nests and perches, where they can move freely and express their natural behaviors.

Good practices for raising cage-free laying hens

Caring about animal welfare means going beyond simply eliminating cages. To raise cage-free laying hens, it is important to consider several factors, such as nutrition, management, and handling.

To begin with, poultry houses must have good ventilation and adequate lighting. To maintain ideal temperatures, especially in regions with excessive heat, facilities should be equipped with fans or exhaust systems.

From the fourth week of age onward, birds must have access to perches, with a minimum space allowance of 7.5 cm per bird. Beak trimming, when performed, must be done within the first 10 days of life.

In addition, laying hens must receive a balanced diet appropriate for their age, free from ingredients derived from mammals or birds and free from preventive antibiotics or growth promoters, including coccidiostats (vaccination is permitted).

Regarding feeding, it is essential to provide a sufficient number of feeders and drinkers to prevent competition among birds during meals.

For proper management of cage-free laying hen systems, everyone involved in daily handling must be trained and knowledgeable about good practices and appropriate animal handling methods, always avoiding stress and fear.

The presence of an adequate number of nests and perches is essential for birds to express their natural behaviors. At least one individual nest must be provided for every five birds, or 0.8 square meters of communal nesting area for every 100 birds. For laying hens, the facility must provide 15 cm of perch space per bird. Dust bathing is a highly valued natural behavior, so clean and dry litter on the barn floor is essential.

It is also important to monitor birds twice daily to check temperature, humidity, and air velocity conditions.

4 tips for raising cage-free laying hens

Many large companies such as McDonald’s, Burger King, and Giraffas have already announced that starting in 2025 they will use only eggs sourced from cage-free systems. This is the market trend. If you are a producer planning to transition to this model, or if you already operate this way and want to increase safety for your laying hens, consider the following tips:

1. Prioritize hygiene

Hygiene begins at the farm entrance: controlling vehicle and human access is essential.

Appropriate clothing must be provided for visitors and employees.

Facilities where animals are housed must be cleaned regularly.

2. Adjust the structure

A cage-free laying hen facility does not require major investments. Much of the structure can be built using low-cost materials such as straw and wood.

The floor should be covered with high-quality substrate to improve bird comfort. It is also important to avoid structures or equipment where birds could hide, become trapped, injured, or unable to escape.

3. Invest in biosecurity

Facilities must be built in areas isolated from access by other animals, including domestic animals.

If trees are used in outdoor areas, non-fruiting species should be selected and kept well-pruned to prevent use by wild birds.

4. Have an emergency plan

Every poultry farm must have an emergency plan for adverse situations, as well as equipment to respond to these scenarios, such as an owned or rented generator, ensuring that issues like power outages do not interrupt the daily supply of feed and water. In times of pandemic, such a plan becomes even more important.

To learn more about how to raise cage-free laying hens, also check out our free resource: Digital Guide for Laying Hens.

In this article, we break down the main myths and facts about animal welfare certification to show that the path toward more ethical and responsible production is more accessible than it seems. If you work with animal production or use animal-based products in your supply chain, this is worth reading.

Is certification really for everyone?

Yes. Contrary to popular belief, animal welfare certification does not depend on the size of the farm or company. What truly matters is the commitment to best practices. Both small and large producers can become certified, as long as they follow the standards and are organized to meet the established criteria.

Is it expensive?

No. The process involves clear and proportional fees based on the size of the operation. Costs include document review, on-site audits and annual renewal. In fact, certification can lead to long-term savings, animals raised with proper care get sick less often, are more productive and add value to the final product.

Is it a complicated process?

Another myth. The standards are objective and science-based. They guide how to ensure that animals have enough space, comfort, proper access to food and clean water, and live free from pain, stress and mistreatment. With proper planning and transparency, any producer can comply.

Why do these myths still exist?

Much of the resistance comes from misinformation. As with any improvement process, questions and hesitation are common. But the market has evolved, and consumers are paying more attention to the origin of what they consume. Being certified is also a way to stand out and strengthen your market position.

Is the Certified Humane® label truly reliable?

Yes. Since 2003, the program has been active in several countries, including Brazil, Canada, Chile, Peru and the United States,certifying meat, dairy, and egg producers through rigorous and regular audits. The seal assures consumers that the product complies with international animal welfare standards.

There are no economic or geographic barriers for those who want to produce ethically. The first step is seeking reliable information. The Certified Humane® seal is within reach for anyone who values respect for farm animals and aims to offer more responsible products.

Want to learn more about how certification works and debunk the most common myths?

👉 Download the free guide “What You Need to Know to Certify Your Industrial Operation with an Animal Welfare Seal” and discover why this practice benefits producers, businesses, and consumers alike.

Held in the city of Trichy, the event followed a Training of Trainers (ToT) model. Its goal was to equip thought leaders and technical multipliers with best practices for housing, handling, health, and the welfare of laying hens in alternative production systems — especially cage-free environments.

Certified Humane® was invited to share its technical expertise and present the criteria from its laying hen animal welfare certification program which is implemented in over 25 countries. Luiz Mazzon, regional director for Latin America and Asia, detailed the requirements farms must meet to achieve certification, all based on scientific evidence and objective animal welfare guidelines.

“This was an important opportunity to show that cage-free systems are not only feasible but also productive, technically sound, and increasingly demanded by consumers and global markets,” Luiz stated.

A transformative event for poultry farming in India

The training gathered key players in the Indian poultry sector: university and state veterinarians, experts from the Central Poultry Development Organization (CPDO), representatives from the Central Avian Research Institute (CARI), equipment suppliers, genetics specialists, and rural entrepreneurs. The aim was to understand, discuss, and scale practices aligned with animal welfare and responsible production.

The new training center will serve as a permanent space for capacity-building, research, and innovation. It is housed on a working cage-free farm, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in practical demonstrations of the concepts covered during the sessions.

Happy Hens as a practical example

One of the event highlights was the participation of Happy Hens, a Certified Humane® egg producer in India. Manjunath Marapan, the company’s general manager, shared their inspiring journey — from ethical beginnings to expansion into highly demanding markets.

Also present was Mathavan, owner of the model farm that now hosts the training center, who has been a key advocate for cage-free systems in the region.

“The Happy Hens case shows that producing with animal welfare in mind is not only ethical — it’s also strategic and economically viable,” Luiz Mazzon emphasized.

WATCH ON YOUTUBE: Animal welfare in India: Happy Eggs founder discusses egg market trends

Certification as a technical and marketing tool

Certified Humane® emphasized during the event that certification is a technical, transparent, and auditable process that brings benefits for both farm management and product value.

By meeting the program’s criteria — covering everything from space requirements per bird to feed, health, handling, and slaughter practices — producers align with internationally recognized standards. This can open doors to premium markets and enhance brand reputation among increasingly conscious consumers.

The organization also reinforced that laying hen animal welfare certification is accessible to producers of various sizes, including small and medium-scale farms, provided there is commitment to adapting handling routines.

A significant step for the future of poultry farming in Asia

Certified Humane®’s participation in this milestone reinforces its role as a trusted global reference in promoting ethical, sustainable, and technically sound production systems.

The Tamil Nadu training center signals a broader movement: the cage-free transition in Asia is no longer a distant vision — it’s happening now with support, knowledge, and a clear path forward.

Among other possible definitions, welfare is, in the words of Barry O. Hughes, “(…) a state of complete physical and mental health in which the animal is in harmony with its environment”. In order to give birds a life of wellbeing, it is necessary to use facilities, equipment and techniques, as well as staff training, that guarantee peaceful handling and low stress for animals and breeders. 

Stay with us and learn more about how knowing bird behavior can improve animal management and welfare!

Poultry behavior 

Understanding poultry behavior means being able to recognize signs of stress, illness and pain in animals, as well as identifying abnormal behaviors early on, in order to effectively manage these situations and create a balance between ethical production and economic profitability. The way they walk, eat, look, group together, fight or flee contributes to their survival – and their way of acting is determined by two types of behavior:

Innate behavior → Reactions pre-programmed even before the chicken’s birth that don’t depend on experience and are typical of the species, i.e. “birds are born knowing/doing them”. 

Learned behavior → Depends on the individual experiences of each bird, in other words, their behavior is shaped according to the positive or negative experiences they have. 

Omnivorous, farmed poultry eat anything from seeds to small invertebrates when given the opportunity and spend more than 90% of their time scratching and searching for food, even in places where feed is available. The bird’s sensory repertoire is stimulated by what it hears, smells and sees so that it reacts according to each situation. 

Chickens live in small groups of 5 to 30 individuals whose order is dictated by the dominance of some individuals and the submission of others. This social dynamic remains even when they are kept loose in sheds or aviaries. Body posture is an important sign of dominance, as are weight, size, age and genetics.

Escape zone 

The escape zone is a circular area around the bird that it has defined for itself according to its tolerance to the presence of strangers and threats before initiating an escape. The chicken tends to flee when this area is invaded, but in situations where there is no room to escape, they may stall or fight. 

When raised in large groups of other birds, the invasion of their individual space leads to increased stress and aggression.  

Sensory characteristics 

Poultry evaluate new stimuli through sight and hearing before reacting: if the reaction is fear, they can panic and jeopardize their own well-being, suffer bodily harm and result in economic losses. Fear generates reactions of fight, flight or fright (paralysis) and, when it realizes that there is no danger, it loses interest. 

The bird may stop consuming food if it is afraid or feels threatened. 

Vision

With their eyes located on the sides of their heads like all prey species, poultry have binocular vision (when they can see a narrow strip in front of them with both eyes), monocular vision (wide and panoramic to the sides) and a blind area (behind the body, making it easier for them to be caught from behind). They are animals that see colors but don’t perceive depth well, especially right in front of their head. 

Hearing and communication 

Hearing and vocalization are essential for birds: with a wide repertoire of vocalizations, birds provide information for others to hear and react quickly – in the case of the presence of predators, for example. 

Birds’ vocalizations change depending on the type of challenge they perceive. In the case of terrestrial predators, birds stand still, upright and emit rapid, low-pitched vocalizations. When they are aerial predators, they increase the intensity of their vocalizations while ducking and running for cover. 

Learned behavior 

Compared to pigs, cattle and sheep, chickens have a lower capacity for learning – their learning is generally focused on satisfying basic needs such as moving around the environment where they are being housed, choosing the best food, avoiding danger and recognizing people, as well as reacting according to environmental stimuli (light, temperature, the presence of other birds, for example).  

Even so, the previous experiences the chickens have had during handling will affect their future reactions to fear and stress. When they are raised in open environments, with a lower population density, and handled by people who move between them calmly and without sudden movements and loud noises, the birds are more docile, less reactive and fearful and can be stimulated to adapt to new situations more easily. 

→ Download the educational material How to Become a Certified Humane® Egg Operation

The company recently launched India’s first cage-free training facility in the town of Perambalur, in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. They expect to train more than 1,000 farmers annually. 

The training facility will enable farmers to use recognized animal welfare practices, which have an impact on egg quality.

Premium products

Happy Hens Farm has also invested in creating product lines aimed at specific consumer needs. 

The Fola+ Eggs line of premium free-range eggs is developed using a chicken feed enriched with special nutrients. According to studies, this diet increases vitamin B9, also known as folate, in the eggs of birds that consume this supplement.

The product acts on the health of red blood cells and the increased production of proteins, and is especially suitable for children and pregnant women.

Recognition

Highlighted by Forbes for its significant growth, Happy Hens Farm was recognized internationally in 2024 with the Good Egg Award from Compassion in World Farming (CIWF), in the Good Egg category. 

The company is the first group in the Indian poultry industry to receive this title for its work in reviving traditional and ethical practices in egg production. Through training programs, the company has promoted better job opportunities, healthier food and greater animal welfare. 

The CEO of Happy Hens, Manjunath Marappan, highlighted that the award is a reflection of the collective effort and passion of the entire team in sharing knowledge and sustainable practices.

“Receiving the Good Egg Award is truly an honor. This recognition inspires me and many farmers in India to continue promoting a positive farming environment for chickens, which impacts on higher quality for consumers,” he added.

Impact on the local economy

As well as offering training and market support, Happy Hens Farm works with native breeds of hens, which are better adapted to life outdoors. 

The cage-free egg production model is less intensive than the industrial one, allowing small farmers to keep up to 3,000 birds on their farms, compared to 20,000 in industrial environments.

The company has also generated consistent income for local farmers. A farmer with 300 chickens can earn around 10,000 rupees a month (around US$117), a significant income in India.

Manjunath Marappan points out that 100% of the eggs produced are sold, thanks to the adoption of an innovative program called cage-free credits.

Mites, for example, can be removed from feathers through dust baths, highlighting the importance of keeping the litter dry and loose. However, control without clinical intervention is possible only if there are no favorable factors for their proliferation and if the animals are healthy.

Unfavorable housing conditions for chicken rearing or those that do not strictly meet biosecurity measures are critical factors that predispose birds to ectoparasite infestations.

Lice and mites are external parasites that feed on the blood, feathers, or skin scales of birds. They can be found infesting laying hens, or depending on the stages of the parasites’ life cycle, they can also be found in the environment.

Mites can survive up to 10 months in an empty barn, and lice larvae can live in the same environment as the birds; the problem arises when they reach adulthood and infest the flock.

When an infestation occurs, chicken mites and lice cause blood-sucking, weakening the birds’ immune systems, leading to increased susceptibility to other diseases. To avoid this problem, maintaining biosecurity for people and facilities is essential.

Types of ectoparasites and infestation impacts

The negative effects of ectoparasites on chicken welfare are numerous, from persistent stress due to bird disturbance, physiological weaknesses, increased susceptibility to other diseases, reduced productivity, and even death. 

The birds may show signs such as anemia, progressive weight loss, and reduced laying rates. The risk of unidentified and untreated infestations is that, in extreme cases, they can collapse the entire flock.

Types of Lice

The common types of lice that affect wild birds and are most common in laying hens include Menopon gallinae, Menacanthus sp., Goniocotes gallinae, Cuclotogaster heterographa, and Columbicola columbae. The latter, known as pigeon lice, can also infest chickens if pigeons or other wild birds enter the facilities or if there is a failure to disinfect footwear when entering chicken housing. Menopon gallinae and Menacanthus sp. have five life stages: egg, nymph 1, nymph 2, nymph 3, and adult male and female, which live attached to the feathers of laying hens. This type of lice does not survive long in the environment.

Lice are chewing parasites rather than blood-sucking; they live on the birds’ skin, around the cloaca, under the wings, thighs, and chest. They do not survive long in the environment without parasitizing birds. They can cause significant skin irritation, stress, agitation, and compromise animal performance and welfare.

Types of Mites

Red Mite or Chicken Mite (Dermanyssus gallinae):
Also known as “chicken mite,” despite its popular name, it is a mite and not a louse.

These mites hide in coops, barns, and aviaries during the day and climb onto birds at night to feed on blood. They are blood-feeding and can severely weaken chickens.

The complete life cycle takes about two weeks but can be shortened to one week under ideal conditions (35°C and relative humidity above 70%).

Feather Mite (Ornithonyssus sp.):
Known as the “feather mite,” it stays on the bird almost all the time.

It continuously infests the birds, making it easy to distinguish its infestation from that caused by Dermanyssus gallinae.

In addition to poultry, this mite is found on urban pigeons, causing infestations in places such as squares and public parks.

Another Feather Mite (Megninia sp.):
This mite is not blood-feeding.

It spends its entire life cycle on laying hens, living in the feathers. It damages the feathers, leaving them dirty, fragile, and brittle. In Brazil, there is little information about this type of mite.

These mites are important to monitor and control to ensure the health of the birds and the quality of egg production.

Signs of chicken lice and mite presence

The first signs of infestation can be subtle, as ectoparasites are tiny. However, the producer will notice an escalation of common symptoms across several birds:

• Visualization of ectoparasites during a physical examination of the birds;
• Fatigue and apathy;
• Itching (pecking behavior among feathers, leg or foot scales);
• Reduced egg production;
• Red spots on the skin;
• Paleness and regression of combs and wattles;
• Feather pecking;
• Scabs or blood on legs and feet;
• Lice eggs on feather shafts;
• Blood on eggshells;
• Problems and reluctance to perch or use nests if these places are infested with parasites.

How to prevent ectoparasite infestations

Preventive biosecurity measures and regular physical examinations of birds are the best practices for monitoring and preventing lice and mite infestations on your farm. Preventing the entry of wild birds through gaps in netting and door closures limits the transmission of these ectoparasites from wild birds to chickens. Installing bird deterrents helps prevent the entry of other host birds, such as pigeons.

Another potential and important risk is negligence or failure in biosecurity measures such as disinfecting or changing footwear and clothing when entering the chicken environment. These and other objects may be contaminated with different parasites and transmit them from the external environment or from one barn to another.

Effective disinfection of structures and bird access points during the sanitation period is essential to prevent transmission of these organisms to future flocks. Elevated nests and frequent replacement of bedding or mat cleaning prevent the accumulation of parasites indoors.

Constant monitoring of the environment and birds is necessary to identify infestations in time to combat them, that is, at the very beginning. Pay special attention to bird behavior, such as excessive self-cleaning and reluctance to enter nests. Access to dry, loose litter that allows dust bathing is also preventive.

Prevention is the most efficient way to combat the presence of ectoparasites in laying hens at any stage of life.

All the points covered in this article are carefully evaluated during audits by the Certified Humane program, according to the laying hen manual, which can be accessed here.

To help you prevent this type of challenge on your farm and promote comfort and welfare for the animals, read our content on what should be checked daily in laying hen rearing.

Poultry management systems are continuously evolving to meet the expectations of conscious consumers and to contribute to animal welfare. Despite this, these systems are not immune to causing stress to the birds and must always be reassessed, improved, and remodeled. The behavior of piling up has various causes that must be observed to minimize the risks of production inefficiency, animal death, and economic losses for the producer.

Caroline Mazzocco, a zootechnician and auditor for Certified Humane®, recently defended her master’s dissertation shedding light on aspects of this topic that are still poorly understood by poultry farmers and researchers. Continue reading to understand the factors that can trigger hen piling up.

Why hen piling up occurs

Laying hens have a gregarious nature, meaning a social tendency to gather in groups. This behavior occurs because moving in groups increases their chances of survival, for instance, in searching for food, escaping predators, and facing environmental challenges. Often, younger individuals imitate the behavior of more experienced birds when choosing places to lay their eggs, perch, and feed. Their instinct for protection leads them to pile up.

This natural expression can lead to recurring piling up, meaning that once the grouping occurs, its tendency is to repeat multiple times. This crowding often has no apparent cause or reason, so farmers must always remain vigilant.

In addition to this natural behavior, piling up can also occur due to hysteria. This is practically unpredictable and happens due to sudden scares caused by any abrupt change in the environment. Examples include unexpected visits, light spots, noises, and events that interfere with the birds’ routine.

The problem is that this grouping often leads to asphyxiation and death of the birds. According to Caroline’s research, hen piling up is the predominant cause of mortality in poultry farming systems, accounting for 26% of occurrences. Given this number, the study examines poultry farmers’ perceptions and understanding of this behavior, identifying its predisposing factors, from structural points in the environment, physiological aspects of the birds, and even daily management practices.

Challenges for farmers and contributing factors

As a multifactorial behavior, hen piling up requires constant attention, as it can be difficult to detect when this problem is about to occur. Causes can include insufficient space, ventilation problems, inadequate lighting, and limited availability of resources such as perches, nests, feeders, and drinkers.

In larger farms, physical access and visual monitoring can be more limited, and farmers often need the help of technology to observe behavior. This type of solution can be expensive and pose logistical difficulties for implementation.

Additionally, symptoms of piling up, such as bird stress and injuries, may resemble manifestations of other problems, making it difficult to identify.

Implementing management practices that prevent piling up requires time and effort, but changes in routine, such as feeding and cleaning schedules, can be beneficial in minimizing hen piling up.

Strategies to prevent and mitigate piling up

Nest Management 

Piling up in nests occurs when many birds seek the same spot in the barn, such as corners. This happens mainly during the early laying stages when younger birds are not yet confident enough to choose their own nest and cluster with others.

To avoid piling up in nests, it is necessary to provide 1 nest for 4 or 5 birds or a minimum of 0.80 m² of collective nest for 100 birds, helping to reduce piling up in this area. Additionally, it is necessary to remove eggs as they are laid to prevent piling up of both birds and eggs.

Thermal Comfort 

When birds pile up, it indicates that they are either cold or escaping from hot areas. This leads them to cluster in areas with a more comfortable temperature, such as near fans to try to cool off. Ideally, the temperature should be uniform. To achieve this, it is possible to use side curtains in the barn to maintain the internal temperature in case of wind or rain.

Uniform Lighting 

Homogeneous light distribution is also recommended, preferably natural. The recommended intensity should allow for bird inspection and ensure there are no darker or shadowed areas they may seek for laying in the litter, leading to piling up. If the lighting is artificial, the system should guarantee a minimum of 8 hours of continuous artificial light and/or daylight, as well as 6 hours of continuous darkness or the natural dark period. This system should use a program of gradual reduction and increase of luminosity, simulating natural light and allowing the hens to prepare for darkness or light.

Considering the concepts of welfare and circadian physiology of the birds, natural lighting favors a uniform routine for all and promotes perching behavior, preventing crowding.

Environmental Enrichment 

The lack of stimuli in the environment can lead to piling up behavior, as sudden and unexpected stimuli can trigger hysteria and behavioral disturbances.

Providing efficient resources, such as feeders, drinkers, and nest boxes, and even offering additional quantities of these resources can help reduce piling up behavior. This is because environmental enrichment can improve the degree of bird welfare through the expression of feelings of pleasure, interest, and a sense of control, as well as improve the use of resources and available space.

According to Caroline’s dissertation, materials such as sand, sawdust, rice husks, and long-cut straw can encourage dust bathing. In addition, the availability of stones or polystyrene blocks and devices with hanging ropes or beads can help in expressing pecking behavior. Perches and raised platforms are also used to offer the animals the possibility to explore the area and exercise during flight.

Animal welfare is productivity 

The research results indicate that laying hen piling up is a behavior triggered by factors related to the environment in which they are kept. The study concludes that there is a need for more rigorous and detailed research to clarify behaviors and assess the economic impacts of production systems and animal welfare.

It is clear that when talking about animal welfare, simply placing animals in a cage-free system is not enough. It is necessary to create conditions for laying hens to live in healthy environments, free from disturbances that can cause stress and compromise their quality of life, thus enabling production.

To learn more about how to identify and avoid piling up behavior in laying hens, zootechnician and researcher Caroline Mazzocco can answer specific questions about laying hen management via email: mazoccocc@gmail.com.

Download the standards for egg laying hens

The article explores how innovative initiatives, such as Happy Hens Farm, led by Manjunath Marappan, are transforming the sector with greater animal welfare and sustainability. Check out the article: 

Manjunath Marappan, founder of Happy Hens Farm, recalls the days when all chickens in India were cage-free, like those raised by his grandmother, who scratched for grain and worms in the backyard. 

However, since the 1980s, egg production in the country has changed. 

The increased demand for eggs and chicken meat led to an industrialization of production, concentrating it in small, confined spaces where the hens lost their freedom.

A return to their roots

Marappan believes that this transition has resulted in significant losses for consumers and producers. For him, reviving more traditional and ethical practices brings benefits such as better job opportunities, healthier food and improved animal welfare. 

Motivated by this vision, Marappan and his partner Ashok Kanna founded Happy Hens Farm in 2015, where all the chickens are free-range and live in a more natural way, with beaks and wings intact.

In 2024, Happy Hens Farm was internationally recognized by being presented with the Good Egg Award by Compassion in World Farming, making it the first Indian company to win this honour. 

Today, several farms in southern Indian states are part of its network, bringing together experienced and novice farmers who share knowledge and sustainable practices.

Impact on the local economy

As well as offering training and market support, Happy Hens Farm works with native chicken breeds, which are better adapted to life outdoors. 

The cage-free egg production model is less intensive than the industrial one, allowing small farmers to keep up to 3,000 birds on their farms, compared to 20,000 in industrial environments.

The company has also generated consistent income for local farmers. A farmer with 300 chickens can earn around 10,000 rupees a month, a significant income for small producers. 

Marappan points out that 100% of the eggs produced are sold, thanks to the adoption of an innovative program: cage-free credits.

What are Cage-Free Credits?

Launched by Global Food Partners, this system allows food and hospitality companies to offset the use of conventional eggs by directly supporting farms that produce eggs with animal welfare certification. 

Companies such as Unilever and Krispy Kreme have already joined the program, which connects buyers with producers in remote areas.

The program works like this: if a company is in a location where cage-free eggs are not available, it can pay Happy Hens Farm the difference between the price of conventional eggs and welfare-certified eggs, directly encouraging sustainable production.

Challenges and opportunities

Although there are challenges, such as predators and a higher risk of disease in open environments, Marappan believes that the model is viable and scalable. 

He sees cage-free credits as a short-term solution to create capacity and infrastructure, allowing for a gradual transition to a cage-free market.

The future of eggs in Asia

As more companies commit to global animal welfare goals, the demand for cage-free eggs is expected to grow. 

According to the CEO of Global Food Partners, Elissa Lane, Asia is an emerging market in this movement, with notable progress in countries such as China, Thailand and Indonesia.

Although cage-free credits are still a new concept, they have the potential to revolutionize egg production by encouraging ethical and sustainable practices, such as those at Happy Hens Farm, which is certified by the Certified Humane® seal, recognizing its high animal welfare standards.

According to the Asia Cage-Free Benchmark report by the Open Wing Alliance, released in 2024, Asia is home to the majority of the world’s commercial laying hens—more than 3 billion in total—of which about 90% are confined in cages.

However, raising hens cage-free is essential for sustainable egg production.

The research highlights that countries like New Zealand, Israel, and Australia lead the rankings in animal welfare practices, while countries like Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Vietnam are at the bottom, underscoring the urgent need for improvements.

Cage-free farming is better not only for the welfare of the birds, as it reduces parasite infestations and hen mortality, but also lowers greenhouse gas emissions and helps combat climate change.

The countless benefits that the cage-free system offers to hens, farmers, consumers, and the planet itself have not gone unnoticed by the market.

Today, the largest companies in the food industry are committed to respecting animal welfare, selling exclusively—now or in the near future—cage-free eggs.

Stay with us until the end of the text to understand why!

→ Download Technical Handbook: Cage-free production systems for commercial egg laying hens

Global requirement

For many years, the market favored the “conventional” system of egg production in caged farms, but the cage-free system represents a return to the truly traditional method of farming: allowing hens to roam freely, forage, and behave according to their species.

The combination of animal welfare, enhanced final products, and other multiple benefits has made the cage-free system more than just a trend—it is a true global requirement.

In an interview with Bloomberg, John Brunnquell, president of Egg Innovations, stated that “young adults really care about the planet.”

According to Brunnquell, “young adults are completely changing the food chain.” Proof of this is that while sales of conventional eggs dropped by 3% last year in the United States, sales of cage-free eggs rose by 12%, and organic eggs grew by over 7%.

The cage-free system and cage-free hen farming are the future of egg production, and in Asia, this future is already taking shape.

Many Asian companies are adopting cage-free practices to meet the growing consumer demand for more ethical and sustainable products.

To learn more about the cage-free system in Asia, visit Certified Humane Asia.

Prioritizing the animals

With consumers becoming increasingly demanding about production methods and product quality, food industry companies in Asia have recognized that respect for animal welfare and the cage-free production system are here to stay.

Humane management is a growing demand in the global market, with consumers eager to know where, how, and in what manner their food is produced. With the Certified Humane label, they get all these answers.

In addition to ensuring the welfare of their animals, displaying the Certified Humane label provides:

• Market positioning and visibility;
• Credibility and an excellent reputation;
• Increased efficiency and productivity;
• Consumer satisfaction.

→ Learn everything you need to know about animal welfare certification!

→ Technical Handbook (2nd Edition): Cage-free production systems for commercial egg laying hens