I saw JO's programme Chicken's Egg to Plate Hell programme yesterday which was most enlightening.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukn...plate-hell.html

Major stores have begun clearing their shelves of eggs from caged birds four years before the introduction of an EU law to stop birds being kept in tiny cages.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukn...-two-years.html

I certainly have not waited for the law to be enforced and immedietaly stopped buying caged eggs and chicken.

I would recommend everybody to watch the show as many people are simply unaware of these appalling conditions in which these poor animals are bred.

Have you watched the film Food Inc.? It focuses on food production in the USA, but it is applicable to any first world country. Absolutely horrifying. I have bought nothing from a grocery store since except for vegetables. I was able to find a farm close to my city that raises beef, chicken and pork naturally and put in a large order for my freezer. The food tastes better and I can sleep at night. I get my eggs at the farmers market...free range.

Having said all that, I must admit that this comes at a price. Many people can not afford to eat this way. I say do what you can within your means...that will be enough. Awareness is the first step.

I always buy free range eggs too.

Problem is those new 'enriched cages' coming in are no better than the current battery cages. Hens are still jammed in tiny cages, they're still unable to have any natural expression. They'll still be starved just short of death and they'll still be denied sleep to keep them productive. The new system is STILL barbaric. Yet many countries have asked for the new system to be deferred for another few years as it's too soon for them to make the minimal changes!

I keep ex-battery hens as pets, they're beautiful, intelligent animals. They don't live long as they're bred to lay far more intensively than a normal hen, so die of exhaustion very young. But at least they get to see the sunshine, catch a few bugs and finally preen and dustbathe.

I'd love to quote what Hugh HW says about people who eat battery eggs, but I fear I'd be banned!

Sorry... battery farming is my hot button! x

Free range is still cruel.
If you want to be as cruelty free as possible - buy Organic.

Critters are critters. I don't advocate deliberate cruelty to critters but I also do not equate them with human beings. What is cruel to a human being is not necessarily cruel to a critter.

If you want to spend your money on organic free range eggs, that is your personal choice to make. Me, I will buy the cheap eggs that taste no different to me and have the same nutrition to them.

I tried the organic free range eggs at Lidl but actually prefer the taste and look of their ordinary free range ones.
The yolks of the organic ones I tried (bought a dozen twice) were so pale compared with the non-organic ones which look so much nicer when boiled or poached.

I always buy free range eggs, but haven't tried the organic ones, so can't give an opinion on them. They are more expensive but worth buying for the sake of the poor chickens.