Young hens in battery cage

Photographs taken at the Farm Pride pullet farm, next door to their free-range egg farm.

Although described as 'free-range' young hens, known as pullets, were discovered confined to battery cages, strikingly similar to those found on cage egg farms. Hens are introduced into the laying sheds at between 18-20 weeks and will remain there until their laying slows at 12-18 months old. This means that, for up to a quarter of their life, these 'free-range' chickens will live in small, wire cages with no access to the outdoors. 18 months old 'spent' hens are sent to the slaughterhouse where they will be killed and turned into cheap meat products.