Layer Hen Confinement: Understanding the Numbers

Every second, approximately 100 egg-laying hens live confined in battery cages worldwide. This page explains our methodology, sources, and the specific claims we make.

The Claim We Make

> "{count} egg-laying hens spent their lives in cages smaller than a sheet of paper"

This page explains both how many hens are confined and how we know about the cage dimensions and space allowances.

What Happens

Battery cages are small wire enclosures used to house egg-laying hens in intensive farming operations. The standard "conventional" battery cage provides:

• **Space per hen:** 430-550 cm² (67-85 square inches)
• **A4 paper size:** 623 cm² (96.5 square inches)
• **Letter paper size:** 603 cm² (93.5 square inches)

This means each hen has less space than a single sheet of paper to live her entire productive life (typically 18-24 months).

In these conditions, hens cannot: - Spread their wings (wing span ~30 inches) - Dust bathe (a crucial natural behavior) - Perch or roost - Nest before laying eggs - Walk or move freely

After 1-2 years when egg production declines, hens are slaughtered and typically used for processed products (soups, pet food) due to their poor body condition.

Despite "cage-free" labels becoming more common in wealthy countries, the vast majority of the world's layer hens still live in battery cages, particularly in Asia, South America, and Africa.

The Scale

| Metric | Count | |--------|-------| | Global layer hen population | ~7,700,000,000 | | Hens in battery cages (~65%) | ~5,000,000,000 | | Rate for counter (conceptual) | ~100/second |

Note: Unlike slaughter counters, this represents the ongoing population of hens living in these conditions at any given moment.

How We Calculate This

Global layer hen population: ~7.7 billion at any given time - Source: FAO FAOSTAT, USDA NASS (2022-2023)

Proportion in battery cages: ~60-70% globally - Source: Compassion in World Farming estimates

We display a rate showing how many hens exist in confinement as a way to convey the scale.

Our calculation: 7,700,000,000 ÷ 31,536,000 seconds = 244 per second

We display 100/second to be conservative and focus on those in the most restrictive conditions.

Sources for the Count

FAO FAOSTAT - **Organization:** Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (Intergovernmental) - **Year:** 2022 - **What it measures:** Global poultry population statistics - **Link:** [fao.org/faostat](https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL)

USDA NASS - **Organization:** US Department of Agriculture (Government) - **Year:** 2023 - **What it measures:** US layer hen inventory and housing types - **Link:** [nass.usda.gov](https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_Subject/)

Sources for the Practice

EU Council Directive 1999/74/EC - **Organization:** European Union (Government) - **Year:** 1999 (amended) - **What it documents:** Minimum standards for laying hens, including cage dimensions - **Key finding:** Conventional cages (now banned in EU) provided 550 cm²; "enriched" cages require 750 cm² - still less than letter paper - **Link:** [eur-lex.europa.eu](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A31999L0074)

United Egg Producers Guidelines - **Organization:** United Egg Producers (Industry) - **Year:** 2023 - **What it documents:** US industry standards for cage space allowances - **Key finding:** Industry guidelines specify 67-76 square inches (432-490 cm²) per hen in conventional cages - **Link:** [unitedegg.com](https://unitedegg.com/)

Compassion in World Farming - Battery Cages - **Organization:** Compassion in World Farming (NGO) - **Year:** 2023 - **What it documents:** Global prevalence of battery cage systems - **Key finding:** Majority of world's layer hens remain in conventional battery cages - **Link:** [ciwf.org](https://www.ciwf.org.uk/farm-animals/chickens/egg-laying-hens/)

Scientific Committee on Animal Health - Layer Hen Welfare - **Organization:** European Commission Scientific Committee (Government/Scientific) - **Year:** 1996 - **What it documents:** Behavioral needs of laying hens - **Key finding:** "Hens in battery cages cannot perform many normal behaviors including wing-flapping, dust-bathing, and nesting"

Confidence Assessment

| Aspect | Confidence | Notes | |--------|------------|-------| | Global layer hen population | High | FAO data is comprehensive | | Cage dimensions | High | Regulatory standards and industry guidelines are explicit | | Space less than paper | High | Direct comparison of documented measurements | | Behavioral restrictions | High | Peer-reviewed research on hen needs vs. cage allowances | | Global cage prevalence | Medium | Varies by region; exact global % is estimated | | Overall claim | High | Both dimensions and scale are well-documented |

--- Last updated: January 2026 | Data year: 2022-2023 | Confidence: High