New polling shows 69% think breeding game birds in cages should be illegal
By Mike Nicholas
Posted 13th June 2025
Polling figures released today by national animal welfare charity the League Against Cruel Sports shows almost seven out of 10 people across the UK support a ban on cages used to breed ‘game’ birds such as pheasants.
The figures have been released as politicians prepare for a parliamentary debate on the future of cages for all farmed animals, including game birds kept for breeding, on June 16.
The polling was carried out independently by YouGov, commissioned by the League, and shows that 69 per cent of UK adults think the cages used to breed pheasants and partridges should be illegal.
The League’s polling shows support for a ban on caged game bird breeding is from across the political spectrum: with 57 per cent of those who voted Conservative in the 2024 general election supporting it, 77 per cent of Labour, 78 per cent of Liberal Democrat, and 61 per cent of Reform.
Emma Slawinski, chief executive of the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “The public are clear that don’t want to see tiny, cramped cages being used for breeding by the game bird shooting industry. With more than 100,000 birds confined to these cages for breeding purposes every year, it’s cruelty on an industrial scale and it’s right this issue is to be debated in parliament.
“We’re calling for the government to ban the use of factory farming style cages in game bird breeding, in line with overwhelming public support for higher animal welfare standards.”
There are around 300 game bird farms across Britain, which along with imported poults and eggs account for the 61.2 million non-native pheasants and partridges being released into the countryside every year – simply to be shot for ‘sport’.
The UK is home to Europe’s largest game bird farm, Bettws Hall in Wales, which alone confines 90,000 game birds to raised laying cages to produce up to 800,000 eggs a week.
Game birds don’t qualify for some of the minimum welfare standards other farmed birds receive such as minimum space requirements and routine official inspections.
The severe lack of space restricting movement and natural behaviours in the cages leads to the birds experiencing distress and injuries.
The Westminster Hall debate was prompted after a petition, started by actor Joanna Lumley and supported by the League and Compassion in World Farming, drew the support of more than 100,000 signatures.
Emma added: “This government has pledged to introduce the most comprehensive animal welfare package in a generation and this needs to take into account the plight of game birds being cruelly confined to cages, but support for this move crosses the political divide.
“We’re proud of being a nation of animal lovers so let’s put this into practice and outlaw the use of these cramped cages and end the cruel practice of incarcerating pheasants and partridges in these tortuous conditions.”
You can take action here by writing to your MP and asking them to join our campaign to ask them to support our campaign to end breeding game birds in cages by writing to the Environment Secretary and telling him that it’s time for change.
Ends
Notes to editors
The results of the polling are available here.
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,361 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 12th - 13th January 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).
The government debate was triggered when the petition to end the use of cages and crates for all farmed animals reached 100,000 signatures
You can find details of the League Against Cruel Sports press office here:
Pheasants in cages with severe feather loss. Photo credit: Animal Aid