In a bid to raise awareness of the cruelty of battery cages, Chris Parker successfully moved that the council adopt a free range policy that included using caterers that could guarantee the source of their eggs.

And Greens convenor Wendy White says Maitland City Council should also take a lead in the community, and stand up against battery cages.

“If people could see the appalling conditions that these hens are in, and the amount of injuries that occur, such as the deformed claws because they are on wire all the time, I think they would instantly switch to free range eggs,” she said.

Cr Parker used a video showing the conditions battery hens endured to convince fellow Cessnock councillors at Wednesday’s meeting to support the motion.

He told the Mercury before the meeting that he had nursed injured battery hens back to health on his farm, including one pecked so severely her beating heart was visible.

“Local councils have the opportunity to help our communities move towards ridding ourselves of this unnecessary use of factory egg farming,” he said on Thursday.

“Now that we have adopted it, Cessnock council will promote the policy on its web site.

“We will also encourage Cessnock businesses, organisations and households to look for free range alternatives when buying eggs.”

Cessnock followed an international movement on the issue, including a commitment from the European Union to phase out caged chickens by 2012.

But Maitland Mayor Peter Blackmore said the decision should be consumer driven.

“I still don’t believe it’s a matter for council,” he said.