The Green Party is calling on the Government to end the use of cruel colony cages for chickens, following revelations on TV3’s Story tonight that shows hens in horrific conditions in such cages, including a dead hen trapped under a perch and hens in a distressed state.
The Green Party is calling on the Government to end the use of cruel colony cages for chickens, following revelations on TV3’s Story tonight that shows hens in horrific conditions in such cages, including a dead hen trapped under a perch and hens in a distressed state.
“Colony cages are cruel and they should not be seen as a better replacement to battery cages,” said Green Party animal welfare spokesperson Mojo Mathers.
"The Ministry of Primary Industries falsely claim colony cages are better for chickens, but this footage shows that they can be as bad as the old battery cages.
“Chickens living in colony cages are living in miserable conditions. It is just Government spin that they are an acceptable alternative to battery cages.
"Being confined in cramped cages is a cruel way to keep hens. New Zealanders care about animal welfare, so we should be moving away from battery and colony cages to cage free systems.
“The Government must step in to raise the minimum standards for layer hens in this country and ban all cruel cage systems.
"New Zealand has committed to getting rid of battery cages by 2022. Spending millions of dollars to replace them with these equally cruel colony cages doesn't make sense.
“Austria, Germany and Switzerland have already set phase-out dates for colony cages. Their phase-out dates will take effect around the time that we move into colony cages making New Zealand seem ethically backwards in the eyes of international consumers.
“By continuing to use cruel cages for egg laying we are missing an opportunity to make real ethical changes. Cage free is the best way to go”
