1. In the past, hens were kept in the open farmyard during the day and at night they were put in hen houses.
2. Nowadays, hens are kept 24 hours a day in wire cages, also called "batteries".
3. The old system allowed the hens to walk around, to clean their feathers and spread their wings, to lay eggs in a quiet space and to scratch and peck at straws.
4. The present system keeps the hens in a warm, safe space away from predators, the cages are clean and hygienic.
