Washington State Bans Cages For Egg-Laying Hens

This week Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed a bill that will ban the sale of of eggs from caged hens.

By 2023, it will be illegal to sell eggs in Washington if the hens were raised in cages. The law will affect about eight million hens each year.

In addition to banning cages and requiring more space per bird, the law also mandates that hens be provided with scratch areas, perches, nesting and dust bathing areas.

The Humane Society of the United States has spearheaded the passage of this law and others in a dozen states.

"The laws in Washington, California and Massachusetts set a great precedent for other states and countries to follow, and further support corporate policy commitments reforming how farm animals are raised," said Kitty Block, HSUS president and CEO. "Let's keep the momentum going as we work toward the day when no farm animal is locked in a cage."