RSPCA Watchdog state "The Royal Society for the Protection of Cruelty against Animals says it's against the battery cage yet maintains a business arrangement and accepts sponsorship from Pace Farms, Australia's largest battery egg producer. The RSPCA say their Liberty Barnlaid Egg Endorsement Scheme with Pace Farms will ensure that some hens get our of cages, yet the number of battery hens in cages has not decreased while the RSPCA gets paid (to date) over $182,560 in royalty payments. Meanwhile, Pace Farms has just built the largest battery hen farm in the Southern Hemisphere (West Wyalong).

"Chickens are the most numerous animals used in Victoria requiring the protection of the RSPCA. Millions of birds in hundreds of breeding farms, battery/barnlaid and free-range egg farms, and broiler (chicken meat) farms rated only three routine inspections in 2002. The inspections are cursory. What hope do the animals have, especially if inspections are at Pace Farms?"

The Animal Liberation Victoria animal rescue team repeatedly videotape and photograph cruelties inside RSPCA approved barnlaid sheds including: overcrowding, beak mutilations, lack of perches, prevention of roosting, chronic stress and electric shock training.

Many brands of eggs state that they are "free range" or "barnlaid". As there is no legislation defining who can and cannot use these terms, they are self-definied and self-regulated. Therefore, these words are no guarantee that the eggs were produced cruelty-free.

THE ALTERNATIVE

Look for Free Range Organic eggs produced by small local farms certified by ACO or NASAA. These eggs are produced under guidelines that guarantee no chemicals etc are added to the hens food and that animals are raised under healthy conditions.

The Free Range Farmers Association also provides accreditation for its members and ensures that their own standard of "free range" is upheld. See codes for specific details.