SUPPORT: Agriculture – Confinement of Egg-Laying Hens in Commercial Egg Production – Prohibitions – SB 690
Most hens in the egg industry are crammed into wire cages so small they can’t even spread their wings. Packed five or more to a cage, each hen is forced to spend her whole life in a meager amount of space that is smaller than the dimensions of an iPad. Virtually unable to move, the hens are prohibited from engaging in almost any of their natural behaviors, like perching, nesting, and dustbathing.
SB 690 contains the United Egg Producers’ own cage-free standards. These standards allow the birds to perform important natural behaviors like flapping their wings, walking, bathing, and laying eggs in nest boxes. Requiring all eggs produced and sold in Maryland to meet the industry’s own cage-free standards would improve quality of life for over five million egg-laying hens every year. Moreover, the majority of US current egg production relies on battery cages, a known source of disease for chickens and humans.
Many states have already passed legislation or regulations banning battery cages for egg-laying hens, including Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Colorado, Utah, Michigan, Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, and Nevada. Battery cages for egg-laying hens are prohibited in eighteen countries, including the European Union, India, New Zealand, Israel, Norway, and Switzerland.
Marylanders believe in compassion for all animals, not just pets. New polling numbers from YouGov show that seventy-six percent of Maryland voters support their legislators voting in favor of cage-free egg legislation like SB 690, while only 17 percent would oppose.
Take action to promote the health and well-being of egg-laying hens and Marylanders!
Please contact your legislators and ask them to SUPPORT SB 690! It takes just a few seconds to fill out the form below and send a letter directly to your state representative voicing your support for this very important and human bill.
Thank you again for being an advocate for Maryland’s animals. Remember, Maryland Votes for Animals, Inc. can only succeed with the help of animal advocates like you. Please consider making a donation to Maryland Votes for Animals at voteanimals.org/donate now, so we can continue fighting for Maryland animals.
With compassion,
Maryland Votes for Animals, Inc.