Public support grows for cage-free farming in Ukraine, survey finds

The survey included 1,000 respondents aged 18 and over from Kyiv and Lviv and is representative by age, gender, and region.

Cage-free receives widespread support amongst Ukrainians

One of the study's most significant findings is that 43.5% of respondents support the introduction of cage-free systems on Ukrainian farms, answering "Yes" to the question "Do you support the introduction of cage-free, cage-free egg production, cage-free chicken/animal husbandry on farms in Ukraine?" Only 14.4% oppose the transition.

Support for cage-free farming was remarkably consistent across both Kyiv and Lviv, suggesting that positive attitudes toward a transition away from cage confinement are shared regardless of geographical location. These findings challenge the common misconception that Ukrainian society is not ready to support ending the use of cages in egg production.

Public awareness is higher than expected

The survey also examined how familiar Ukrainians are with the concept of "cage-free".

According to the results, 25.5% of respondents said they understand the meaning of cage-free, while another 19.5% have heard of it, although were not entirely familiar with it. Additionally, 22.7% guessed the meaning, leaving only 32.4% of those who have no understanding.

Respondents who indicated some familiarity with the term "cage-free" were asked to explain the concept in their own words. Most answers correctly described cage-free systems as keeping hens or other farmed animals without cages, allowing an increase in movement and the space to carry out natural behaviours. These responses suggest that Ukrainians generally understand cage-free farming as an animal welfare issue and support the phasing out of cages for egg-laying hens.

Society is ready for change

The survey provides encouraging evidence that Ukrainians increasingly recognise the importance of improving the lives of countless egg-laying hens trapped in cruel caged systems.

This reflects a broader shift across Europe, where the European Citizens’ Initiative End the Cage Age secured the support of 1.4 million people calling for a formal ban on cages in animal farming. With cages increasingly being phased out across Europe and future restrictions expected at EU level, the shift in Ukrainian opinion towards a cage-free future goes hand in hand with these wider changes, signalling growing alignment with emerging European standards for animal welfare.

For Project 1882 Ukraine, these findings reinforce the importance of continuing to raise awareness, engage citizens, and work with policymakers and businesses to eradicate cruel caged systems from egg supply chains.