... producing capabilities of the dairy cow, has enabled farmers to gain greater returns from their animals. However, these methods have also been questionable with regard to animal welfare. Most animals held on factory farms are forced to endure poor living conditions. The case of the battery hen is a particularly affecting one. Battery hens are among the most confined animals in modern farming. Chickens have no more than 51 by 46 centimetres of space in the cages in which they are kept. They cannot spread their wings, nor can they scratch or peck the ground on which they stand. As a result, the hens become distressed and attempt to peck one another instead. To combat this, farmers cut off the tips of chickens beaks, however they do not use any form of anaesthetic, thus causing great pain and distress to the chicken. These conditions are mirrored by the treatment of the ...

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