The majority of egg-laying hens in India spend their lives crowded into cages so small, the birds lack sufficient space to walk or even stretch their wings. Happy Hens Farm can label their eggs as free-range because the hens on their farm can move about freely within a large yard or take cover in a spacious indoor enclosure, and can engage in natural behaviour such as foraging outdoors, perching and nesting.

Manjunath Marappan, the farm's co-founder, said: "At Happy Hens Farm, we believe that we have the responsibility to provide these animals every opportunity to express natural behaviour. We welcome all our customers to visit our farms."

Happy Hens Farm's decision to implement higher animal welfare standards comes on the heels of a growing movement against battery cage egg production and farm animal cruelty within the country. Hotels including Crowne Plaza Today-Gurgaon, Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai and Hotel Ramada Plaza New Delhi, as well as speciality restaurant, Hao Shi Nian Nian, and celebrity chef, Mako Ravindran, have ended their procurement of eggs from caged hens.

N.G. Jayasimha, manager of HSI's factory farming campaign in India, commented: "Humane Society International urges consumers to avoid purchasing battery-cage eggs. By labelling their eggs as free-range, Happy Hens Farm provides Indian consumers with the information they need to make a better choice."