Practical Issues > Factory Farm - Index > Chickens

Battery Cages: There may be no experience of life more fraught with stress and pain than that of the battery caged hen. She does not live on a farm, but inside a gigantic metal factory like the one pictured here. Such facilities hold literally millions of hens who are confined in row after row of tiny wire 'battery' cages. These cages are too small to allow hens to stand in a normal upright position, much less stretch, unfold their wings, or exercise. Throughout the course of her short life, the battery caged hen will be forced to endure beak mutilations, overcrowding, filth, disease, and periodic starvation.

Read more about battery cage operations...
Take a factory tour...

Our Rescue Campaign: Compassionate Action for Animals' Rescue Campaign was an effort to educate the public and save the lives of individual hens. This involved entering factory farms to investigate the appalling conditions in which the birds are forced to live. We removed as many sick and injured hens as we have homes for, then released documented evidence of neglect and suffering to the media. We adhere to strict nonviolence and biosecurity guidelines. In doing so we hope to inspire others to adopt a non-speciesist respect for life, make compassionate choices, and take action on behalf of animals.

This campaign is no longer active at the present time.

Read our rescue reports...
More information about our investigations...

How You Can Help: Billions of animals raised on factory farms are slaughtered each year. Pigs, cows, poultry, and many fish whose flesh and byproducts are sold to consumers suffer from the stress and neglect inherent on factory farms.

As a consumer, you have the choice to oppose those practices which exchange cruelty for profit. As an individual, you have the opportunity to be directly involved in helping farmed animals by volunteering, making a donation, or encouraging others to make compassionate choices.

If you care about the lives of billions of farmed animals nationwide, please:

• Explore veganism (a diet free of animal products)
• Boycott Michael Foods
• Volunteer with CAA
• Spread the word - link to this website!