There are currently some twenty million caged battery hens in the UK providing us with eggs. While some people campaign to create a free-range future – the highest profile campaigners have been chefs such as Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Jamie Oliver - others seek to improve the battery hen’s lot and the public’s understanding. One of these organisations is charity The Battery Hen Welfare Trust that states on its website that it doesn't "condemn the battery farmer but works in a constructive and positive way with the industry".

Whilst we can, through our shopping basket, help to move a shift towards a free-range future by buying free-range eggs, thought should be given to items in our shopping basket that contain hidden – and largely battery-sourced – eggs. These could include the more obvious items such as ready-made quiches and cakes but also the not-so-obvious such as mayonnaise, egg pasta and chocolate. When you think about the way we eat and shop in this day and age it’s no surprise that twenty million hens are needed – it’s just a shame they have to be caged. The Battery Hen Welfare Trust works to re-home battery hens that have come to the end of their ‘useful’ life. At the time of writing this article, it has re-homed 131,353 hens and you can picture them enjoying a free and relaxed life pecking and roosting – as nature intended.

The long-term aim of the charity is to diminish consumer demand for battery eggs whilst at the same time promote the British farmers who use welfare friendly systems. Founder Jane Howorth insists this pro-industry policy is a vital element to the success of the charity as well as the health of the industry in the long term. The charity encourages consumers to purchase products containing only British free range, organic and barn eggs – now available in all supermarkets. The Battery Hen Welfare Trust has built good relations within the industry and is keen to redress the balance between farmer and consumer, asking the consumer to take responsibility for hen welfare rather than simply blaming the farmer for this unpopular system.

So how to help? If you have the land and the time you can adopt some retired battery chickens, and there is plenty of advice given on how to ensure they settle in. If the thought of keeping chickens doesn’t really make you fluff your feathers with excitement, you can make a donation – or you can change the way you shop.

One big thing you can do however is to start thinking about what you buy. It’s easy enough to switch to free-range eggs – and they taste better as well – but give thought to the hidden battery eggs in your shopping basket!

To learn more about The Battery Hen Welfare Trust, visit www.bhwt.org.uk or write to The Battery Hen Welfare Trust, North Parks, Chulmleigh, Devon. EX18 7EJ.

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