The ministry does not keep records of how many hens have been transitioned out of battery cages into colony cages, but the federation’s executive director, Michael Brooks, says as of December 2022, 10% were in conventional cages (and would be gone by 1 January), 33% in colonies, 29% in barns and 34% free range. In December 2012, 86% were in battery cages.
The ministry worked with industry to ensure compliance with the incoming ban, said Gray Harrison, the ministry’s animal welfare manager. “As part of that our animal welfare inspectors inspected 26 chicken farms over the past 12 months to ensure they would meet the 1 January 2023 transition deadline,” he said.
A whole ~2 farms inspected per month.