Also in the news, this weekend, is the fact that sales of 'free range' eggs have overtaken battery cage eggs, in the UK. So they should and why on earth are we still keeping hens in cages?

I am heartened by the trend, especially as it shows that the great British public is becoming aware of animal welfare and is prepared to do something about it.

However, as The Daily Telegraph (David Derbyshire) wrote last November: "The image of free range hens wandering through woods and farmyards is a little way from the truth. In being free range, hens can still spend most of their time in hen houses or large barns as long as they have continuous access to runs "mainly covered with vegetation". Up to 2,500 birds are allowed in one hectare (just over two acres)." Furthermore, dominant hens may prevent the majority from using the legal 'popholes' to the outside. The tag 'Free Range' is just not sufficient safeguard and is being exploited by the industry. You only have to look at the welfare leaflet produced by DEFRA: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/farmed/layers/booklets/pb6490.pdf to see the incredible housing conditions to which many 'free range' hens are subjected.

RSPCA Freedom Food may not be all it seems, either. There have been prosecutions against Freedom Food farms: http://www.hillside.org.uk

This passage was lifted from: http://www.airflow.net/chukkies/freerang.htm "The UK free-range flock numbers around 3 million birds, 10% of the national egg-laying flock. Commercial free-range systems involve massive flocks, often around 15,000 birds, which are housed in huge sheds. Legally, the birds must have continuous access to open-air runs which means the sheds have a number of pop-holes. Stocking densities must not be more than 1,000 birds per hectare of ground to which the birds have access. This is about 200 times more space than battery hens have. However, inadequate numbers of pop-holes in large sheds may mean that many birds never leave the sheds. Pop-holes may also be protected by more aggressive birds discouraging other hens from using them freely. Overcrowding inside the sheds can lead to similar welfare problems as percheries with aggression, feather-pecking and cannibalism all occurring. Debeaking is more common in free-range hens than battery hens! Disease is also a problem, especially where high stocking densities result in the ground outside becoming heavily fouled. Traditional free-range involves smaller flocks which are housed in moveable houses."

As far as I can tell, Soil Association Organic standard is the best welfare option and the best policed, unless someone can tell me otherwise.

If you really want to help the hapless chicken, ask restaurants, cafes, hotels, bars etc. where they source their eggs. If they cannot satisfy your enquiries properly, it's best not to buy food containing eggs! If enough do this, there will be a major policy shift among buyers for the catering industry. The same applies to supermarkets or wherever else you shop.

Make keeping hens in cages obsolete and that would be a feather in your cap (pun intended)!