laying hens

code of recommendations for the welfare of livestock

C O D E O F R E C O M M E N D AT I O N S F O R T H E WE L FAR E O F L I VE ST O C K :
L AYI N G H E N S
N O T E
After con su ltati on , th i s C od e, wh i ch con si sts of p aragrap h s 1 to 82) , h as been p u t before
both H ou ses of P arli am en t for au th ori ty to i ssu e i t u n d er Secti on 3 of th e Agri cu ltu re
M i scellan eou s P rovi si on s Act 1 968.
T h i s Secti on allows th e M i n i sters to p rod u ce cod es of recom m en d ati on s for th e welfare of
li vestock , an d to i ssu e su ch cod es on ce th ey h ave been ap p roved i n d raft by both H ou ses of
P arli am en t. H owever, th e ori gi n al d efi n i ti on of th e M i n i sters see secti on 50 of th e 1 968
Act h as been ch an ged to reflect d evolu ti on for Scotlan d an d Wales an d th e creati on of th e
D ep artm en t for E n vi ron m en t, F ood an d R u ral Affai rs. I n E n glan d , th e p owers of th e
M i n i sters were fi rst tran sferred to th e M i n i ster of Agri cu ltu re, F i sh eri es an d F ood by th e
Tran sfer of F u n cti on s Agri cu ltu re an d F ood ) O rd er 1 999 S.I . 1 999/31 41 ) an d th en
tran sferred to th e Secretary of State by th e M i n i stry of Agri cu ltu re, F i sh eri es an d F ood
D i ssolu ti on ) O rd er 2002 S.I 2002/794) .
I n Scotlan d , th e p owers of th e M i n i sters h ad p revi ou sly been tran sferred to th e Scotti sh
M i n i sters by Secti on 53 of th e Scotlan d Act 1 998 1 998 c.46) an d , i n Wales, th e p owers of
th e M i n i sters h ad p revi ou sly been tran sferred to th e N ati on al Assem bly for Wales by arti cle
2 a) of th e N ati on al Assem bly for Wales Tran sfer of F u n cti on s O rd er 1 999 S.I . 1 999/672) .
A
code for the w elfare of laying hens
C O N TEN TS
Preface
Introduction
Stockmanship and Staffing
Inspection
Disease Treatment
Record Keeping
Feed & Water
Freedom of Movement
Housing
G en eral
N on -cage system s
C on ven ti on al cages
E n ri ch ed cages
Environment
Ven ti lati on an d tem p eratu re
L i gh t
L i tter
N oi se
Animals with access to open runs
Automatic or mechanical equipment
Mutilations
Breeding procedures
Catching and transport
Appendix
R eferen ces
U sefu l p u bli cati on s
F u rth er i n form ati on
P aragrap h s
1 - 4
5 - 1 1
1 2 - 1 5
1 6 - 1 8
1 9 - 20
21 - 29
30 - 31
32 - 37
38 - 44
45 - 47
48 - 49
50 - 53
54 - 56
57 - 59
60 - 66
67 - 69
70 - 72
73
74 - 82
P age
2
5
6
7
8
9
1 0
1 2
1 3
1 4
1 5
1 5
1 7
1 7
1 8
1 8
1 9
20
21
22
23
25
26
27
T h i s p reface i s n ot p art of th e C od e bu t i s
i n ten d ed to exp lai n i ts p u rp ose an d to i n d i cate
th e broad con si d erati on s u p on wh i ch i t i s
based . Si m i larly, th e legi slati on qu oted i n
boxes th rou gh ou t th e d ocu m en t i s n ot p art of
th e C od e bu t i s i n ten d ed to h i gh li gh t som e of
th e legal requ i rem en ts. T h e law, as qu oted i n
th ese boxes, i s th at i n force ei th er on th e d ate
of p u bli cati on or rep ri n ti n g of th e C od e p lease
tu rn to th e back cover for th i s i n form ati on ) .
R ead ers sh ou ld be aware th at an y of th e legal
req u i rem en ts q u o ted m i gh t b e su b ject to
ch an ge - th ey sh ou ld seek con fi rm ati on before
assu m i n g th at th ese are an accu rate statem en t
of th e law cu rren tly i n force.
R egu lation 1 0 of th e Welfare of F arm ed An im als
E n glan d) R egu lation s 2000 S.I . 2000 N o.
1 870) provides th at:
An y person wh o em ploys or en gages a person to
atten d to an im als sh all en su re th at th e person
atten din g to th e an im als:
- is acqu ain ted with th e provision s of all
relevan t statu tory welfare codes relatin g to
th e an im als bein g atten ded to;
- h as access to a copy of th ose codes wh ile h e
is atten din g to th e an im als; an d
- h as received in stru ction an d gu idan ce on
th ose codes.
An y person wh o keeps an im als, or wh o cau ses
or kn owin gly perm its an im als to be kept, sh all
n ot atten d to th em u n less h e h as access to all
relevan t statu tory welfare codes relatin g to th e
an im als wh ile h e is atten din g to th em , an d is
acqu ain ted with th e provision s of th ose codes.
I n R egu lation 2 it states th at statu tory welfare
code m ean s a code for th e tim e bein g issu ed
u n d er Secti on 3 of th e Agri cu ltu re
M iscellan eou s P rovision s Act 1 968.
To cau se u n n ecessary p ai n or u n n ecessary
distress to an y livestock on agricu ltu ral lan d is
an offen ce u n der Section 1 1 ) of th e Agricu ltu re
M i scellan eou s P rovi si on s Act 1 968. T h e
breach of a code provision , wh ilst n ot an offen ce
in itself, can n everth eless be u sed in eviden ce as
ten din g to establish th e gu ilt of an yon e accu sed
of cau sin g th e offen ce of cau sin g u n n ecessary
pain or distress u n der th e Act Section 3 4) ) .
R egu lati on 3 1 ) of th e Welfare of F arm ed
An im als E n glan d) R egu lation s 2000 S.I . 2000
N o.1 870) states th at own ers an d keepers of
an im als sh all take all reason able steps:
- to en su re th e welfare of th e an im als u n der
th eir care; an d
- to en su re th at th e an im als are n ot cau sed
an y u n n ecessary pain , su fferin g or in ju ry.
R egu lati on 3 3) of th e Welfare of F arm ed
An im als E n glan d) R egu lation s 2000 S.I . 2000
N o. 1 870) states th at:
- I n decidin g wh eth er th e con dition s u n der
wh ich an im als are bein g bred or kept com ply
with th e requ irem en ts set ou t in Sch edu le 1 of
th e R egu lation s, th e own er an d keeper of th e
an im als sh all h ave regard to th eir species, an d to
th eir degree of developm en t, adaptation an d
dom estication , an d to th eir ph ysiological an d
eth ologi cal n eed s i n accord an ce wi th
establi sh ed exp eri en ce an d sci en ti fi c
kn owledge.
R egu lation 1 1 of th e Welfare of F arm ed An im als
E n glan d) R egu lation s 2000 S.I . 2000 N o.
1 870) states th at:
- Wh ere an au th orised person con siders th at
an im als are bein g kept in a way wh ich is likely
to cau se u n n ecessary pain , su fferin g or in ju ry, or
in an y oth er way in con traven tion of an y
provision of th ese R egu lation s, h e m ay serve a
n otice on th e person appearin g to h im to be in
ch arge of th e an im als requ irin g th at person ,
with in th e period stated in th e n otice, to take
an y action th at th e au th orised person con siders
to be reason ably n ecessary to en su re com plian ce
wi th th ese R egu lati on s an d th e au th ori sed
person sh all give h is reason s for requ irin g th at
action to be taken .
preface 2
code for the w elfare of laying hens
R egu lation 1 3 2) of th e Welfare of F arm ed
An im als E n glan d) R egu lation s 2000 S.I . 2000
N o. 1 870) states th at:
- I n an y p roceed i n gs agai n st an own er or
keeper of an im als for a failu re to com ply with
R egu lation 3 1 ) or 3 2) , th e own er or keeper as
th e case m ay be, m ay rely on h is com plian ce
with an y relevan t recom m en dation con tain ed in
a statu tory welfare code as ten din g to establish
h is com plian ce with th e relevan t regu lation .
T h e C ode is in ten ded to en cou rage all th ose
wh o care for farm an im als to adopt th e h igh est
stan d ard s of h u sban d ry. Wi th ou t good
stockm an sh ip, an im al welfare can n ever be
ad equ ately p rotected . Ad h eren ce to th ese
recom m en dation s will h elp flock-keepers to
reach th e requ ired stan dard.
T h e welfare of layin g h en s is con sidered with in
a fram ework, elaborated by th e F arm An im al
Welfare C ou n ci l, an d k n own as th e F i ve
F reedom s . T h ese form a logical basis for th e
assessm en t of welfare wi th i n an y system ,
togeth er with th e action s n ecessary to safegu ard
welfare with in th e con strain ts of an efficien t
livestock in du stry.
The Five Freedoms are:
1 . F R E E D O M F R O M H U N G E R AN D T H I R ST
- by ready access to fresh water an d a diet to
m ain tain fu ll h ealth an d vigou r;
2. F R E E D O M F R O M D I SC O M F O R T
- by providin g an appropriate en viron m en t
in clu din g sh elter an d a com fortable restin g
area;
3. F R E E D O M F R O M PAI N , I N JU R Y O R
D I SE ASE
- by preven tion or rapid diagn osis an d
treatm en t;
4. F R E E D O M T O E XP R E SS N O R M AL
B E H AVI O U R
- by providin g su fficien t space, proper facilities
an d com pan y of th e an im als own kin d;
5. F R E E D O M F R O M F E AR AN D D I ST R E SS
- by en su rin g con dition s an d treatm en t to
avoid m en tal su fferin g.
I n ackn owledgin g th ese freedom s, th ose wh o
h ave care of livestock sh ou ld practise: -
- carin g an d respon sible plan n in g an d
m an agem en t;
- skilled, kn owledgeable an d con scien tiou s
stockm an sh ip;
- appropriate en viron m en tal design for
exam ple, of th e h u sban dry system ) ;
- con siderate h an dlin g an d tran sport;
- h u m an e slau gh ter.
T h e P rotection of An im als Acts th e P rotection
of An im als Acts 1 91 1 - 1 988 an d th e P rotection
of An im als Am en dm en t Act 2000) con tain th e
gen eral law relati n g to cru elty to an i m als.
B roadly it is an offen ce u n der Section 1 of th e
1 91 1 Act to be cru el to an y dom estic or captive
an im al by an yth in g th at is don e or om itted to be
don e.
Section 1 2 2) of th e 1 91 1 Act em powers a
p oli ce con stable to p lace, i n safe cu stod y,
an im als in th e ch arge of person s appreh en ded
for an offen ce u n der th e Act u n til th e en d of
proceedin gs or th e cou rt orders th e retu rn of th e
an i m als. T h e reason able costs i n volved ,
in clu din g an y n ecessary veterin ary treatm en t,
are recoverable by th e police from th e own er
u pon con viction .
U n der section 1 of th e P rotection of An im als
Am en dm en t Act 1 954, as am en ded by th e
1 988 Act, th e cou rt h as th e power to disqu alify
a p erson con vi cted u n d er th ese Acts from
h avin g cu stody of an y an im al. T h e ban can
specify a particu lar kin d of an im al or all an im als
for su ch period as th e cou rt th in ks fit.
T h e P rotection of An im als Am en dm en t Act
2000 su pplem en ts th e 1 91 1 Act by allowin g a
cou rt to m ake an order relatin g to th e care,
d i sp osal or slau gh ter of an i m als k ep t for
com m ercial pu rposes th at are th e su bject of a
prosecu tion brou gh t u n der th e 1 91 1 Act by a
prosecu tor. A prosecu tor is defin ed in th e
2000 Act to in clu de certain pu blic bodies th at
con d u ct p rosecu ti on s C rown P rosecu ti on
Servi ce, govern m en t d ep artm en ts an d local
au th orities an d an y person or bodies approved
by D E F R A or N ation al Assem bly for Wales. T h e
2000 Act th en allows reason able costs to be
recovered from th e own er by th e prosecu tor.
3
T h is C ode applies in E n glan d on ly an d h as been
i ssu ed by th e Secretary of State for th e
D epartm en t of E n viron m en t, F ood an d R u ral
Affairs followin g approval in draft by both
H ou ses of P arliam en t . I t replaces also as
regards E n glan d on ly) th at part of th e existin g
D om estic F owls C ode issu ed in 1 987) , relatin g
to th e welfare of layin g h en s.
Sim ilar C odes are bein g produ ced in Scotlan d,
Wales an d N orth ern I relan d. U n til th ese n ew
C odes are issu ed, th e existin g D om estic F owls
C ode will con tin u e to apply in Scotlan d an d
Wales. Separate arran gem en ts exist in N orth ern
I relan d.
THIS WELFARE CODE WAS ISSUED ON
22nd July 2002
4
introduction
T h i s cod e wh i ch ap p li es i n E n glan d on ly)
ap p li es to layi n g h en s k ep t i n vari o u s
p rod u cti on system s. F or th e p u rp oses of th i s
cod e flock -k eep er m ean s th e own er of th e
bi rd s or th e p erson resp on si ble for look i n g after
th em . T h e recom m en d ati on s are relevan t to
layi n g h en s i n all typ es of h u sban d ry system ,
alth ou gh a d i fferen t balan ce of welfare ben efi ts
an d d i s-b en efi ts ap p li es to b i rd s k ep t i n
d i fferen t system s. F o llo wi n g th ese
recom m en d ati on s wi ll h elp to en su re th at th e
welfare of th e bi rd s i s safegu ard ed .
N o p erson sh ou ld op erate or set u p a layi n g h en
u n i t u n less th e welfare of all th e bi rd s can be
safegu ard ed . T h i s can be ach i eved by en su ri n g
th at th e bu i ld i n gs an d equ i p m en t, an d th e sk i lls
an d abi li ty of th e flock -k eep er, are ap p rop ri ate
to th e h u sban d ry system an d th e n u m ber of
bi rd s to be k ep t.
T h e relevan t an i m al welfare legi slati on ap p li es
to own ers as well as an y p erson look i n g after
th e bi rd s on th ei r beh alf, wh erever th e bi rd s are
located . A wri tten con tract can be of valu e i n
en su ri n g th at all p arti es are clear abou t th ei r
resp on si bi li ti es i n resp ect of welfare. H owever,
th e obli gati on s i m p osed by law wi ll sti ll ap p ly.
T h e strai n of bi rd selected m u st be su i table for
th e p rod u cti on system .
T h e Welfare of F arm ed An i m als E n glan d )
Am en d m en t) R egu lati on s 2002 S.I . 2002
N o.1 646) lays d own m i n i m u m stan d ard s for
th e p rotecti on of layi n g h en s.
T h i s d oes n ot ap p ly to:
- estab li sh m en ts wi th fewer th an 3 5 0
layi n g h en s
Su ch establi sh m en ts sh all, h owever, con ti n u e
to be su bject to th e relevan t requ i rem en ts of
D i recti ve 98/58/E C , wh i ch h as been m ad e i n to
law i n E n glan d by th e Welfare of F arm ed
An i m als E n glan d ) R egu lati on s 2000 S.I . 2000
N o.1 870) as referred to i n th e text below.
1
2
3
4
R egu lati on 2 1 ) of th e Welfare of F arm ed
An i m als E n glan d ) Am en d m en t R egu lati on s
2 0 0 2 S. I . 2 0 0 2 N o . 1 6 4 6 ) p ro vi d es th e
followi n g d efi n i ti on s:
layi n g h en - m ean s a h en of th e sp eci es Gallus
galluswh i ch h as reach ed layi n g m atu ri ty an d i s
k ep t for p rod u cti on of eggs n ot i n ten d ed for
h atch i n g;
li tter - m ean s an y fri able m ateri al en abli n g
th e h en s to sati sfy th ei r eth ologi cal n eed s;
n est - m ean s a sep arate sp ace for egg layi n g,
th e floor com p on en ts of wh i ch m ay n ot i n clu d e
wi re m esh th at can com e i n to con tact wi th th e
bi rd s, for an i n d i vi d u al h en or a grou p of h en s;
u sable area - m ean s an area, oth er th an an y
n esti n g area, u sed by layi n g h en s at least 30cm
wi d e wi th a floor slop e n ot exceed i n g 1 4% , an d
wi th h ead room of at least 45cm .
code for the w elfare of laying hens
5
Sch ed u le 1 , P aragrap h 1 of th e Welfare of
F arm ed An i m als E n glan d ) R egu lati on s 2000
S.I . 2000 N o.1 870) states th at:
- An i m als sh all be cared for by a su ffi ci en t
n u m ber of staff wh o p ossess th e ap p rop ri ate
ab i li ty, k n o wled ge an d p ro fessi o n al
com p eten ce.
I t i s essen ti al th at su ffi ci en t, well-m oti vated an d
com p eten t p erson n el are em p loyed to carry ou t
all n ecessary task s. Staff sh o u ld b e well
m an aged an d su p ervi sed , fu lly con versan t wi th
th e task s th ey wi ll be requ i red to u n d ertak e an d
com p eten t i n th e u se of an y equ i p m en t.
A ll flo ck -k eep ers sh o u ld d em o n strate fu ll
u n d erstan d i n g of th e welfare n eed s an d basi c
bi ology of th e bi rd s an d h ave sh own th at th ey
are cap able of safegu ard i n g th em u n d er all
fo reseeab le co n d i ti o n s b efo re b ei n g gi ven
resp on si bi li ty for a flock . A good flock -k eep er
wi ll h ave a co m p assi o n ate an d h u m an e
atti tu d e, wi ll be able to an ti ci p ate an d avoi d
m an y p oten ti al welfare p roblem s, an d h ave th e
abi li ty to i d en ti fy th ose th at d o occu r an d
resp on d to th em p rom p tly.
Staff, i n clu d i n g th ose em p loyed by con tractors,
sh ou ld be gi ven ap p rop ri ate trai n i n g. T h i s
req u i res th e acq u i si ti o n o f sp eci fi c
stock m an sh i p sk i lls wh i ch m ay be d evelop ed
on -farm , work i n g wi th an exp eri en ced p erson ,
or by followi n g a cou rse offered by a su i table
trai n i n g p ro vi d er. F lo ck -k eep ers sh o u ld
d em on strate com p eten ce an d u n d erstan d i n g
before th ey are gi ven resp on si bi li ty for th e
bi rd s. Trai n i n g sh ou ld con ti n u e th rou gh ou t th e
d u rati on of th e em p loym en t, an d su i table
refresh er co u rses sh o u ld b e u n d ertak en
regu larly. Wh erever p o ssi b le, th e trai n i n g
sh ou ld be of a typ e wh i ch lead s to form al
recogn i ti on of com p eten ce.
A trai n i n g p lan sh ou ld be i m p lem en ted to
en su re th at th ose work i n g wi th layi n g h en s
recogn i se n ot on ly n orm al beh avi ou r an d good
h ealth bu t also si gn s of i lln ess or d i sease or
i m p en d i n g h ealth p roblem s. I f sp eci ali sed task s
are to be p erform ed , for exam p le vacci n ati on or
h u m an e cu lli n g, th en sp eci fi c trai n i n g sh ou ld
b e gi ven . A ltern ati vely, th e servi ces o f a
stockm anship and staffing 6
com p eten t con tractor u si n g trai n ed staff sh ou ld
be obtai n ed .
Staff sh ou ld establi sh a m eth od i cal rou ti n e i n
com p leti n g th e ran ge of task s i n volved i n
k eep i n g layi n g h en s. As p art of th i s th ey sh ou ld
be p arti cu larly vi gi lan t i n ch eck i n g th at th e
system s are op erati n g p rop erly an d bi rd s are
beh avi n g n orm ally. T h i s wi ll en able flock -
k eep ers to d etect p roblem s i n th ei r earli est
stages an d acqu i re a good u n d erstan d i n g of th e
acti on to be tak en i f a p roblem i s n oti ced . I f th e
cau se i s n ot obvi ou s, or i f th e flock -k eep ers
acti on i s n ot effecti ve, i m m ed i ate veteri n ary or
tech n i cal ad vi ce sh ou ld be obtai n ed .
I t i s essen ti al to en su re th at en ou gh ti m e i s
avai lable wi th i n th e flock -k eep ers d ai ly work
rou ti n e for bi rd s to be p rop erly i n sp ected an d
for an y rem ed i al acti on to be tak en . T h e flock -
k eep er sh ou ld h ave ad equ ate k n owled ge of th e
h u sban d ry system u sed to be able to ap p reci ate
th e su i tabi li ty of th e total en vi ron m en t for th e
bi rd s h ealth an d welfare. T h e system u sed , th e
n u m ber of bi rd s k ep t an d th ei r stock i n g rate
sh o u ld d ep en d o n th e su i tab i li ty o f th e
con d i ti on s an d th e sk i ll of th e flock -k eep er.
You n g bi rd s sh ou ld be gi ven , wh ere p ossi ble,
ap p ro p ri ate ex p eri en ce o f m an agem en t
p racti ces e.g. p arti cu lar feed i n g an d wateri n g
system s an d en vi ron m en tal con d i ti on s e.g.
n atu ral li gh t, p erch es, li tter to en able th em to
ad ap t to th e h u sban d ry system s wh i ch th ey wi ll
en cou n ter later i n li fe. I n ord er to d evelop a
p osi ti ve relati on sh i p between m an an d bi rd
th ere sh all b e freq u en t, q u i et b u t clo se
ap p roach from an early age.
9
10
11
5
6
7
8
code for the w elfare of laying hens
Sch ed u le 1 , p aragrap h 2 of th e Welfare of
F arm ed An i m als R egu lati on s E n glan d ) 2000
S.I . 2000 N o. 1 870) requ i res th at:
- All an i m als k ep t i n h u sban d ry system s i n
wh i ch th ei r welfare d ep en d s o n freq u en t
h u m an atten ti on sh all be th orou gh ly i n sp ected
at least on ce a d ay to ch eck th at th ey are i n a
state of well-bei n g.
- A n i m als k ep t i n system s o th er th an
h u sban d ry system s i n wh i ch th ei r welfare
d ep en d s on frequ en t h u m an atten ti on sh all be
i n sp ected at i n tervals su ffi ci en t to avoi d an y
su fferi n g.
Sch ed u le 1 , p aragrap h 3 states th at:
Wh ere an i m als are k ep t i n a bu i ld i n g ad equ ate
li gh ti n g wh eth er fi xed or p ortable) sh all be
avai lable to en able th em to be th orou gh ly
i n sp ected at an y ti m e.
Sch ed u le 3D , p aragrap h 1 of th e Welfare of
F arm ed A n i m als E n glan d ) A m en d m en t)
R egu lati o n s 2 0 0 2 S. I . 2 0 0 2 N o . 1 6 4 6 )
states th at:
All h en s m u st be i n sp ected by th e own er or
p erson resp on si ble for th e h en s at least on ce a d ay.
Sch ed u le 3D , p aragrap h 6 of th e Welfare of
F arm ed A n i m als E n glan d ) A m en d m en t)
R egu lati on s 2002 S.I . 2002 N o.1 646) states
th at:
Accom m od ati on com p ri si n g two or m ore ti ers
of cages m u st h ave d evi ces or ap p rop ri ate
m easu res m u st be tak en to allow i n sp ecti on of
all ti ers wi th ou t d i ffi cu lty an d faci li tate th e
rem oval of h en s.
A th orou gh i n sp ecti on sh ou ld tak e p lace at
least on ce a d ay. Su ch i n sp ecti on s sh ou ld be
m ad e i n d ep en d en tly o f an y au to m ati c
su rvei llan ce equ i p m en t. T h i s i n sp ecti on sh ou ld
be su ffi ci en tly th orou gh to d etect i lln ess an d
i n ju ry of i n d i vi d u al h en s, an d sp eci al atten ti on
sh o u ld b e p ai d to b o d i ly co n d i ti o n ,
m ovem en ts, resp i ratory d i stress, con d i ti on of
p lu m age, eyes, sk i n , beak , legs, feet an d claws,
an d wh ere ap p rop ri ate, com bs an d wattles.
Atten ti on sh ou ld also be p ai d to th e p resen ce of
ex tern al p arasi tes, to th e co n d i ti o n o f
d rop p i n gs, to feed an d water con su m p ti on , to
growth an d to egg p rod u cti on level. Wh ere
ap p rop ri ate th e bi rd s sh ou ld be en cou raged to
walk . I n d i vi d u al exam i n ati on sh ou ld be m ad e
of th ose bi rd s for wh i ch th e overall i n sp ecti on
i n d i cates th i s to be n ecessary. A secon d d ai ly
i n sp ecti on i s recom m en d ed at a d i fferen t ti m e
of d ay.
T h e h ealth y i n d i vi d u al b i rd sh o u ld h ave
sou n d s an d acti vi ty ap p rop ri ate to i ts age, breed
o r typ e, clear b ri gh t eyes, go o d p o stu re,
vi gorou s m ovem en ts i f u n d u ly d i stu rbed , clean
h ealth y sk i n , good feath er con d i ti on , well
form ed sh an k s an d feet, effecti ve walk i n g an d
acti ve feed i n g an d d ri n k i n g beh avi ou r.
T h e early si gn s of i ll h ealth m ay i n clu d e
ch an ges i n food an d water i n tak e, i n p reen i n g,
i n ch atter an d i n acti vi ty. T h ere m ay also be a
d rop i n egg p rod u cti on an d ch an ges i n egg
qu ali ty su ch as sh ell d efects.
H ou si n g an d E qu i p m en t m u st be d esi gn ed so
th at all th e b i rd s can b e clearly seen .
Su p p lem en tary li gh ti n g m ay be n eed ed for th e
i n sp ecti on of bi rd s i n th e bottom ti er of cage
system s.
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inspection 7
12
A h ealth an d welfare p rogram m e sh ou ld be
i m p lem en ted for each u n i t wh i ch sets ou t
h ealth an d h u sban d ry acti vi ti es. I t sh ou ld also
establi sh m an agem en t p roced u res an d con trol
m easu res to red u ce th e ri sk of i n fecti on s an d
i n ju ry. T h e h ealth an d welfare p rogram m e
sh o u ld b e d evelo p ed wi th ap p ro p ri ate
veteri n ary ad vi ce, revi ewed agai n st
p erform an ce an d u p d ated accord i n gly.
I f th e p ou ltry are ap p aren tly n ot i n good h ealth ,
o r i f th ey are sh o wi n g o b vi o u s si gn s o f
beh avi ou ral alterati on s, th e flock -k eep er m u st
tak e ap p ro p ri ate acti o n wi th o u t d elay to
establi sh th e cau se. I f th e i m m ed i ate rem ed i al
acti on tak en by th e flock -k eep er i s n ot effecti ve
a veteri n ari an m u st b e co n su lted an d , i f
n ecessary, exp ert ad vi ce m u st be sou gh t on
oth er tech n i cal factors i n volved . Wh ere th ere
are si gn s of recu rri n g i n ju ri es wh i ch m ay be
related to th e en vi ron m en t, th ese m u st be
i n vesti gated an d recti fi ed as soon as p ossi ble to
p reven t an y fu rth er d am age to th e bi rd s.
I n ju red , si ck or d i stressed bi rd s m u st be treated
wi th ou t d elay an d i f n ecessary sep arated from
th e rest of th e flock i n su i table accom m od ati on
avai lab le fo r th i s p u rp o se, o r k i lled i n
accord an ce wi th th e legi slati on . D ead bi rd s
m u st be rem oved p rom p tly.
Sch ed u le 1 , p aragrap h 5 of th e Welfare of
F arm ed An i m als E n glan d ) R egu lati on s 2000
S.I . N o. 1 870) , states th at an y an i m als wh i ch
ap p ear to be i ll or i n ju red :
- sh all be cared for ap p rop ri ately wi th ou t
d elay; an d
- wh ere th ey d o n ot resp on d to su ch care,
veteri n ary ad vi ce sh all be obtai n ed as soon as
p ossi ble.
Sch ed u le 1 , p aragrap h 6 states:
Wh ere n ecessary, si ck or i n ju red an i m als sh all
be i solated i n su i table accom m od ati on wi th ,
wh ere ap p rop ri ate, d ry com fortable bed d i n g.
R egu lati o n 4 o f th e Welfare o f A n i m als
Slau gh ter or K i lli n g) R egu lati on s 1 995 S.I .
1 995 N o. 731 ) requ i res th at slau gh ter or k i lli n g
i s carri ed ou t i n a way th at d oes n ot cau se th e
bi rd an y avoi d able exci tem en t, p ai n or su fferi n g
an d by staff wh o h ave th e n ecessary k n owled ge
an d sk i ll to p erform th e task h u m an ely an d
effi ci en tly. T h e p erm i tted m eth od s of k i lli n g
p o u ltry i n clu d e d ecap i tati o n an d n eck
d i slocati on .
Sch ed u le 3D p aragrap h 4 of th e Welfare of
An i m als E n glan d ) Am en d m en t R egu lati on s
2002 S.I . 2002 N o.1 646) states th at:
T h o se p arts o f b u i ld i n gs, eq u i p m en t an d
u ten si ls wh i ch are i n con tact wi th th e h en s
sh all be th orou gh ly clean sed an d d i si n fected
regu larly an d i n an y case every ti m e
d ep op u lati on i s carri ed ou t an d before a n ew
batch of h en s i s brou gh t i n . Wh i le th e cages are
occu p i ed , th e su rfaces an d all equ i p m en t sh all
be k ep t sati sfactori ly clean . D rop p i n gs m u st be
rem oved as often as n ecessary an d d ead h en s
m u st be rem oved every d ay.
disease treatm ent 8
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code for the w elfare of laying hens
Sch ed u le 1 , p aragrap h 7 of th e Welfare of
F arm ed An i m als E n glan d ) R egu lati on s 2000
S.I . 2000 N o. 1 870) states th at a record sh all
be m ai n tai n ed of:
- A n y m ed i ci n al treatm en t gi ven to
an i m als, an d
- T h e n u m ber of m ortali ti es fou n d on each
i n sp ecti on of an i m als carri ed ou t i n accord an ce
wi th an y of th e followi n g p rovi si on s:
- i n th e case of layi n g h en s k ep t i n all
system s P aragrap h 1 of Sch ed u le 3D of th e
Welfare of F arm ed An i m als E n glan d )
A m en d m en t) R egu lati o n s 2 0 0 2
S.I .2002 N o.1 646) states th at all h en s
m u st be i n sp ected by th e own er or th e
p erson resp on si ble for th e h en s at least
on ce a d ay.
- i n an y oth er case P aragrap h 2) states
th at an i m als k ep t i n system s oth er th an
h u sban d ry system s i n wh i ch th ei r welfare
d ep en d s on frequ en t h u m an atten ti on sh all
be i n sp ected at i n tervals su ffi ci en t to avoi d
an y su fferi n g.
Sch ed u le 1 , p aragrap h 8 states th at th e record
referred to i n Sch ed u le 1 , p aragrap h 7 sh all be
retai n ed for a p eri od of at least th ree years from
th e d ate on wh i ch th e m ed i cal treatm en t was
gi ven , or th e d ate of th e i n sp ecti on , as th e case
m ay be, an d sh all be m ad e avai lable to an
au th o ri sed p erso n wh en carryi n g o u t an
i n sp ecti on or wh en oth erwi se requ ested by
su ch p erson .
R ecord s are an essen ti al ai d to m an agem en t an d
th ose k ep t sh ou ld i n clu d e feed an d water
co n su m p ti o n , egg q u ali ty, h ealth ch eck s,
b eh avi o u ral ab n o rm ali ti es, m ax i m u m an d
m i n i m u m tem p eratu res an d am m on i a levels.
M ortali ty, cu lli n g an d , i f p ossi ble, m orbi d i ty
levels sh ou ld be closely m on i tored . Au top si es
sh ou ld be carri ed ou t i n cases wh ere m ortali ty
levels are si gn i fi can t or h i gh er th an breed ers
targets. R ecord s sh ou ld be k ep t of all th ese
resu lts.
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20
record keeping 9
feed and w ater 10
Sch ed u le 1 , p aragrap h s 22-27 of th e Welfare of
F arm ed An i m als E n glan d ) R egu lati on s 2000
S.I . 2000 N o. 1 870) , state th at:
- An i m als sh all be fed a wh olesom e d i et wh i ch
i s ap p rop ri ate to th ei r age an d sp eci es an d
wh i ch i s fed to th em i n su ffi ci en t qu an ti ty to
m ai n tai n th em i n good h ealth , to sati sfy th ei r
n u tri ti on al n eed s an d to p rom ote a p osi ti ve
state of well-bei n g.
- N o an i m als sh all be p rovi d ed wi th food or
li qu i d i n a m an n er, n or sh all su ch food or li qu i d
con tai n an y su bstan ce, wh i ch m ay cau se th em
u n n ecessary su fferi n g or i n ju ry.
- All an i m als sh all h ave access to feed at
i n tervals ap p rop ri ate to th ei r p h ysi ologi cal
n eed s an d , i n an y case, at least on ce a d ay) ,
excep t wh ere a veteri n ary su rgeon acti n g i n th e
exerci se of h i s p rofessi on oth erwi se d i rects.
- All an i m als sh all ei th er h ave access to a
su i table water su p p ly an d be p rovi d ed wi th an
ad equ ate su p p ly of fresh d ri n k i n g water each
d ay or be able to sati sfy th ei r flu i d i n tak e n eed s
by oth er m ean s.
- F eed i n g an d wateri n g equ i p m en t sh all be
d esi gn ed , con stru cted , p laced an d m ai n tai n ed
so th at con tam i n ati on of food an d water an d
th e h arm fu l effects of com p eti ti on between
an i m als are m i n i m i sed .
- N o oth er su bstan ce, wi th th e excep ti on of
th ose gi ven for th erap eu ti c or p rop h ylacti c
p u rp oses or for th e p u rp ose of zootech n i cal
treatm en t sh all be ad m i n i stered to an i m als
u n less i t h as been d em on strated by sci en ti fi c
stu d i es o f an i m al welfare o r estab li sh ed
exp eri en ce th at th e effect of th at su bstan ce i s
n ot d etri m en tal to th e h ealth or welfare of th e
an i m als.
Sch ed u le 3 A , p aragrap h s 3 a) an d b ) ,
p rovi si on s ap p li cable to layi n g h en s k ep t i n
n on -cage system s, of th e Welfare of F arm ed
An i m als E n glan d ) Am en d m en t R egu lati on s
2002 S.I . 2002 N o.1 646) states th at:
All system s m u st be equ i p p ed i n su ch a way
th at all layi n g h en s h ave:
a) ei th er li n ear feed ers p rovi d i n g at least
1 0cm p er h en or ci rcu lar feed ers p rovi d i n g at
least 4cm p er h en ; an d
b ) ei th er co n ti n u o u s d ri n k i n g tro u gh s
p rovi d i n g 2.5 cm p er h en or ci rcu lar d ri n k i n g
trou gh s p rovi d i n g 1 cm p er h en ,
an d , i n ad d i ti on , wh ere n i p p le d ri n k ers or cu p s
are u sed , th ere sh all be at least on e n i p p le
d ri n k er or cu p for every 1 0 h en s. Wh ere
d ri n k i n g p oi n ts are p lu m bed i n , at least two
cu p s or two n i p p le d ri n k ers sh all be wi th i n
reach of each h en .
F eed an d water m u st be read i ly accessi ble to all
bi rd s an d p arti cu lar atten ti on sh ou ld be gi ven
to i ts p rovi si on i n areas u sed by su bord i n ate
bi rd s. I n th e case of bi rd s wh i ch h ave d i ffi cu lty
i n feed i n g or d ri n k i n g, ap p rop ri ate m easu res
sh ou ld be tak en .
F eed i n g an d wateri n g equ i p m en t sh ou ld be
d esi gn ed , con stru cted , p laced , op erated an d
m ai n tai n ed i n su ch a way th at:
- i t m i n i m i ses sp i llage or con tam i n ati on of feed
an d water;
- all bi rd s h ave su ffi ci en t access to i t to avoi d
u n d u e com p eti ti on between i n d i vi d u als;
- i t d oes n ot cau se or resu lt i n i n ju ry to bi rd s;
- i t op erates i n all weath er con d i ti on s;
- th e con su m p ti on of water an d feed can be
m on i tored .
I n ad d i ti on , all equ i p m en t, i n clu d i n g bu lk feed
bi n s, m u st be able to be easi ly
an d effecti vely clean ed an d d i si n fected .
F eed er sp ace allocati on sh ou ld be su ffi ci en t to
en able th e bi rd s to obtai n ad equ ate feed wi th
th e m i n i m u m of com p eti ti on . F or li n ear feed ers
th i s sp ace m u st be 1 0cm of trou gh si d e p er bi rd
p rovi d ed th at bi rd s h ave access to both si d es
an d th at feed ers are p laced su ffi ci en tly far ap art
for bi rd s to m ak e fu ll u se of th e avai lable sp ace.
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code for the w elfare of laying hens
I f feed i s n ot p rovi d ed ad li bi tu m , su ffi ci en t
sp ace m u st be avai lable to allow all bi rd s to eat
at th e sam e ti m e.
Su d d en ch an ges i n th e typ e or qu an ti ty of feed
an d feed i n g p ro ced u res, o th er th an th o se
ap p rop ri ate to th e p h ysi ologi cal n eed s of th e
bi rd s, sh all be avoi d ed excep t i n case of
em ergen cy.
System s wh i ch call fo r th e co m p lete
wi th h old i n g of feed an d water on an y d ay m u st
n ot be ad op ted . I n n o ci rcu m stan ces m ay bi rd s
be i n d u ced to m ou lt by wi th h old i n g feed an d
water. H owever, feed , bu t n ot water, m ay be
wi th h eld for u p to 1 2 h ou rs p ri or to slau gh ter.
T h i s p eri od of 1 2 h ou rs m u st be an i n clu si ve
p eri o d to i n clu d e th e catch i n g, lo ad i n g,
tran sp ort, lai ragi n g an d u n load i n g ti m e p ri or to
slau gh ter.
Stale or con tam i n ated feed or water sh ou ld n ot
be allowed to accu m u late an d sh ou ld be
rep laced i m m ed i ately. P recau ti on s m u st be
tak en to m i n i m i se th e ri sk of d ri n k i n g water
freezi n g.
I n altern ati ve system s, wh ole grai n m ay be
scattered over th e li tter each d ay to en cou rage
fo ragi n g an d scratch i n g an d red u ce th e
p ossi bi li ty of feath er p eck i n g ou tbreak s. B i rd s
sh ou ld also h ave regu lar access to i n solu ble gri t
to ai d d i gesti on .
Arran gem en ts sh ou ld be m ad e i n ad van ce to
en su re th at ad equ ate su p p li es of su i table feed
an d water can be m ad e avai lable i n em ergen ci es
su ch as i n terru p ti on s i n p ower su p p li es.
B o d y co n d i ti o n , wei gh t, egg q u ali ty an d
p rod u cti on sh ou ld be u sed to m on i tor th e
effecti ven ess of th e feed i n g regi m e.
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11
Sch ed u le 1 , p aragrap h 9 of th e Welfare of
F arm ed An i m als E n glan d ) R egu lati on s 2000
S.I . 2000 N o. 1 870) states th at:
- T h e freed om of m ovem en t of an i m als, h avi n g
regard to th ei r sp eci es an d i n accord an ce wi th
estab li sh ed ex p eri en ce an d sci en ti fi c
k n owled ge, sh all n ot be restri cted i n su ch a way
as to cau se th em u n n ecessary su fferi n g or
i n ju ry;
Sch ed u le 1 , p aragrap h 1 0 states th at:
- Wh ere an i m als are con ti n u ou sly or regu larly
co n fi n ed , th ey sh all b e gi ven th e sp ace
ap p ro p ri ate to th ei r p h ysi o lo gi cal an d
eth o lo gi cal n eed s i n acco rd an ce wi th
estab li sh ed ex p eri en ce an d sci en ti fi c
k n owled ge.
Sch ed u le 3 A , p aragrap h s 1 , 2 , 6 an d 7 ,
p rovi si on s ap p li cable to layi n g h en s k ep t i n
n on -cage system s, of th e Welfare of F arm ed
An i m als E n glan d ) Am en d m en t R egu lati on s
2002 S.I . 2002 N o.1 646) states th at:
All n ewly bu i lt or rebu i lt n on -cage system s of
p rod u cti on for k eep i n g layi n g h en s an d all su ch
system s of p rod u cti on brou gh t i n to u se for th e
fi rst ti m e, sh all com p ly wi th th e requ i rem en ts
of th i s Sch ed u le.
O n an d after 1 Jan u ary 2007, all n on -cage
system s of p rod u cti on for k eep i n g layi n g h en s
sh all also co m p ly wi th th e fo llo wi n g
requ i rem en ts.
Su bject to p aragrap h 7 below, th e stock i n g
d en si ty m u st n ot exceed n i n e layi n g h en s p er
squ are m etre of u sable area.
Wh ere on 3 Au gu st 1 999 th e establi sh m en t
ap p li ed a system wh ere th e u sab le area
corresp on d ed to th e avai lable grou n d su rface,
an d th e establi sh m en t i s sti ll ap p lyi n g th i s
system wh en th e Welfare of F arm ed An i m als
E n glan d ) Am en d m en t) R egu lati on s 2002
S.I . 2002 N o.1 646) com e i n to force, a stock i n g
d en si ty o f 1 2 h en s p er sq u are m etre i s
au th ori sed u n ti l 31 D ecem ber 201 1 .
Wh en d eterm i n i n g th e sto ck i n g rate,
con si d erati on sh ou ld be gi ven to breed , system
of h ou si n g, strai n an d typ e of bi rd , colon y si ze,
tem p eratu re, ven ti lati on an d li gh ti n g, as well as
to th e n u m ber of p latform s, p erch es or oth er
su i table i n stallati on s avai lable i n th e th i rd
d i m en si on .
I f d i sease or evi d en ce of a beh avi ou ral p roblem
becom es ap p aren t, by observati on or by recei p t
of u n sati sfactory grad i n g retu rn s from egg
p ack i n g stati o n s o r b y rejecti o n s fro m
p ro cessi n g p lan ts, ex p ert q u ali fi ed ad vi ce
sh ou ld be sou gh t p rom p tly to d eal wi th th e
p roblem . Stock i n g an d ven ti lati on rates sh ou ld
also be ch eck ed an d vari ati on s i n stock i n g an d
ven ti lati on sh ou ld be con si d ered i n ord er to
m i n i m i se th e li k eli h ood of recu rren ce of th e
p roblem .
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freedom of m ovem ent 12
code for the w elfare of laying hens
Sch ed u le 1 , p aragrap h s 1 1 an d 1 2 of th e
Welfare o f F arm ed A n i m als E n glan d )
R egu lati on s 2000 S.I . 2000 N o. 1 870) , state
th at:
- M ateri als u sed fo r th e co n stru cti o n o f
accom m od ati on , an d , i n p arti cu lar for th e
co n stru cti o n o f p en s, cages, stalls an d
equ i p m en t wi th wh i ch th e an i m als m ay com e
i n to con tact, sh all n ot be h arm fu l to th em an d
sh all be cap able of bei n g th orou gh ly clean ed
an d d i si n fected .
- Accom m od ati on an d fi tti n gs for secu ri n g
an i m als sh all be con stru cted an d m ai n tai n ed so
th at th ere are n o sh arp ed ges or p rotru si on s
li k ely to cau se i n ju ry to th em .
Sch ed u le 3D , p aragrap h 5 of th e Welfare of
F arm ed A n i m als E n glan d ) A m en d m en t)
R egu lati on s 2002 S.I . 2002 N o.1 646) states th at:
C ages m u st be su i tably equ i p p ed to p reven t
h en s escap i n g.
Sch ed u le 3D , p aragrap h 7 of th e Welfare of
F arm ed A n i m als E n glan d ) A m en d m en t)
R egu lati on s 2002 S.I . 2002 N o.1 646) states th at:
T h e d esi gn an d d i m en si on s of th e cage d oor
m u st be su ch th at an ad u lt h en can be rem oved
wi th ou t u n d ergoi n g u n n ecessary su fferi n g or
su stai n i n g i n ju ry.
T h e d esi gn , con stru cti on an d m ai n ten an ce of
en closu res, bu i ld i n gs an d equ i p m en t for layi n g
bi rd s sh ou ld be su ch th at th ey:
- allow th e fu lfi lm en t of essen ti al bi ologi cal
n eed s an d th e m ai n ten an ce of good h ealth ;
- faci li tate good m an agem en t of th e bi rd s;
- allo w fo r easy m ai n ten an ce o f go o d
con d i ti on s of h ygi en e an d ai r qu ali ty;
- p ro vi d e sh elter fro m ad verse weath er
con d i ti on s;
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- li m i t th e ri sk o f d i sease, d i so rd ers
m an i fested b y b eh avi o u ral ch an ges,
trau m ati c i n ju ri es to th e b i rd s, i n ju ri es
cau sed b y b i rd s to each o th er an d , as
far as p ossi ble, con tam i n ati on of th e bi rd s by
d rop p i n gs;
- ex clu d e p red ato rs, ro d en ts, an d wi ld
an i m als an d m i n i m i se i n sects;
- allow for th e p reven ti on an d treatm en t of
i n festati o n s o f i n tern al an d ex tern al
p arasi tes;
- i n corp orate d am p - p roof m em bran es to
p reven t i n su lati on break d own , an d m easu res
to p reven t easy access by verm i n to th e
i n su lati on m ateri al.
E m ergen cy p lan n i n g: F arm ers sh ou ld m ak e
ad van ce p lan s for d eali n g wi th em ergen ci es
su ch as fi re, flood or d i sru p ti on of su p p li es, an d
sh ou ld en su re th at all staff are fam i li ar wi th th e
ap p rop ri ate em ergen cy acti on . At least on e
resp on si ble m em ber of th e staff sh ou ld always
be on call to tak e th e n ecessary step s. F i re
p recau ti on s sh ou ld be a m ajor p ri ori ty for all
flock -k eep ers. Wh ere bu i ld i n gs n eed to be
lock ed , arran gem en ts sh all be m ad e to allow
rap i d en try i n case of em ergen cy.
F lock -k eep ers sh ou ld h ave access to an d be
fam i li ar wi th th e con ten t of th e D E F R A book let
F arm F i res .
Wh ere bi rd s are h ou sed , floors, p erch es an d
p latform s sh ou ld be of a su i table d esi gn an d
m ateri al an d n ot cau se d i scom fort, d i stress or
i n ju ry to th e b i rd s. T h ey m u st p ro vi d e
su ffi ci en t su p p ort, p arti cu larly for th e forward
faci n g claws of each foot; m oreover, p erch es
sh ou ld be of su ffi ci en t len gth to allow all bi rd s
to roost at th e sam e ti m e. F loors, p erch es an d
p latform s sh ou ld be k ep t su ffi ci en tly d ry an d
clean .
B i rd s sh all be k ep t i n su ch a way th at th ey can
k eep th em selves clean .
Ven ti lati on , h eati n g, li gh ti n g, feed i n g, wateri n g
an d all oth er equ i p m en t sh ou ld be d esi gn ed ,
si ted an d i n stalled so as to avoi d ri sk of i n ju ri n g
bi rd s.
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34
35
36
37
general
housing 13
The details given below apply to all newly
built or rebuilt non-cage systems of
production for keeping laying hens and all
such systems of production brought into use
for the first time. From 1 January 2007, these
requirements apply to all non-cage systems of
production for keeping laying hens.
Sch ed u le 3A, p aragrap h s 3 c) d ) , an d e) , 4
an d 5 a) , p rovi si on s ap p li cable to layi n g h en s
k ep t i n n on -cage system s, of th e Welfare of
F arm ed A n i m als E n glan d ) A m en d m en t)
R egu lati on s 2002 S.I . 2002 N o.1 646) state th at:
All system s m u st be equ i p p ed i n su ch a way
th at all layi n g h en s h ave:
at least on e n est for every seven h en s. I f
grou p n ests are u sed , th ere m u st be at least
1 m
2
of n est sp ace for a m axi m u m of 1 20
h en s;
p erch es, wi th o u t sh arp ed ges an d
p rovi d i n g at least 1 5 cm p er h en . P erch es
m u st n ot be m ou n ted above th e li tter an d th e
h ori zon tal d i stan ce between p erch es m u st be
at least 30 cm an d th e h ori zon tal d i stan ce
between th e p erch an d th e wall m u st be at
least 20 cm ; an d
at least 250 cm
2
of li ttered area p er h en ,
th e li tter occu p yi n g at least on e th i rd of th e
grou n d su rface.
T h e floors of i n stallati on s m u st be con stru cted
so as to su p p ort each of th e
forward -faci n g claws of each bi rd s foot.
I f system s are u sed wh ere th e layi n g h en s
can m ove freely between d i fferen t levels -
th ere sh all be n o m ore th an fou r levels;
th e h ead room between th e levels m u st
be at least 45 cm ;
th e d ri n k i n g an d feed i n g faci li ti es m u st
be d i stri bu ted i n su ch a way as to p rovi d e
equ al access for all h en s; an d
th e levels m u st be so arran ged as to p reven t
d rop p i n gs falli n g on th e levels below.
You sh ou ld also refer to th e E gg M ark eti n g
Stan d ard s see referen ce secti on ) regard i n g
free ran ge an d barn eggs.
U sable area m ay be m ad e u p of th e grou n d
su rface of th e bu i ld i n g wh ere accessi ble to th e
h en s an d an y ad d i ti o n al rai sed areas o r
p latfo rm s at least 3 0 cm wi d e, i n clu d i n g
p erforated floors p rovi d i n g arran gem en ts are i n
p lace to p reven t fou li n g of h en s below.
N ests sh ou ld be p rovi d ed wi th a floor su bstrate
wh i ch en cou rages n esti n g beh avi ou r. T h i s i s
esp eci ally i m p ortan t at th e start of lay, wh en th e
p ro vi si o n o f lo o se li tter m ay b e u sed to
en co u rage th e p u llets to u se th e n ests.
I n d i vi d u al n ests sh o u ld b e d esi gn ed to
acco m m o d ate o n ly o n e b i rd at a ti m e.
C om m u n al n ests sh ou ld be d esi gn ed u si n g
d i vi si on s an d su i table access p oi n ts to m i n i m i se
overcrowd i n g.
N est floors m ay be m ad e of wi re m esh p rovi d ed
th at th i s i s overlai n by an oth er m ateri al su ch as
straw or p lasti c.
O n ly p erch es at 30cm cen tres or m ore ap art
sh ou ld be calcu lated as p art of th e p erch i n g
sp ace, alth ou gh m ore p erch es m ay be p rovi d ed
ad jacen t to on e an oth er to m ak e a p erforated
floor. P erforated floors can be con si d ered as
p erch i n g sp ace wh en th ey h ave p erch es
i n corp orated wi th i n th e floor stru ctu re or
attach ed on top of th e floor su rface.
T h ere sh ou ld be a su ffi ci en t gap on ei th er si d e
of an y p erch to allow th e h en s to gri p th e
p erch es wi th ou t ri sk of trap p i n g th ei r claws. I f
foot con d i ti on i s p oor th en th e p rovi si on of
p erch es sh ou ld be revi ewed .
M u lti -ti er system s wi th p erforated p latform s
sh ou ld h ave d rop p i n gs belts or trays ben eath .
P erch es m u st be p osi ti on ed to m i n i m i se fou li n g
of an y h en s p erch ed below an d d rop p i n gs
falli n g i n d ri n k i n g an d feed i n g faci li ti es. Wh ere
p ossi ble, p erch es sh ou ld be over a d rop p i n gs
p i t.
E ven wh ere lad d ers are p ro vi d ed , n ests,
roosti n g areas, p erch es an d p latform s sh ou ld
n ot be so h i gh above floor level th at bi rd s h ave
d i ffi cu lty i n u si n g th em or ri sk i n ju ry.
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40
41
42
43
44
14
non - cage system s
code for the w elfare of laying hens
The details given below apply to all
conventional (unenriched) cage systems from
1 January 2003. From 1 January 2003, no
person shall build or bring into service for the
first time any such cage system for the
keeping of laying hens. From 1 January 2012,
no person shall keep any laying hen in any
such cage system.
Sch ed u le 3B , p aragrap h 1 , p rovi si on s ap p li cable
to con ven ti on al u n en ri ch ed ) cages, of th e
Welfare o f F arm ed A n i m als E n glan d )
A m en d m en t) R egu lati o n s 2 0 0 2 S. I . 2 0 0 2
N o.1 646) states th at, on an d after 1 Jan u ary 2003
all con ven ti on al u n en ri ch ed ) cage system s sh all
com p ly wi th th e followi n g requ i rem en ts :
a) at least 550 cm
2
p er h en of cage area,
m easu red i n a h ori zon tal p lan e, wh i ch m ay
be u sed wi th ou t restri cti on , i n p arti cu lar n ot
i n clu d i n g n on -waste d eflecti on p lates li able
to restri ct th e area avai lab le, m u st b e
p rovi d ed for each layi n g h en . H owever wh ere
th e n on -waste d eflecti on p late i s p laced so as
n ot to restri ct th e area avai lable for th e h en s
to u se, th en th at area m ay be i n clu d ed i n th e
m easu rem en t;
b ) a feed tro u gh wh i ch m ay b e u sed
wi th ou t restri cti on m u st be p rovi d ed . I ts
len gth m u st be at least 1 0 cm m u lti p li ed by
th e n u m ber of h en s i n th e cage;
c) u n less n i p p le d ri n k ers or d ri n k i n g cu p s
are p ro vi d ed , each cage m u st h ave a
con ti n u ou s d ri n k i n g ch an n el of th e sam e
len gth as th e feed trou gh m en ti on ed i n su b-
p aragrap h b) . Wh ere d ri n k i n g p oi n ts are
p lu m bed i n , at least two n i p p le d ri n k ers or
two cu p s m u st be wi th i n reach of each cage;
d ) cages m u st be at least 40 cm h i gh over
at least 65% of th e cage area an d n ot less th an
35 cm at an y p oi n t; th e area bei n g obtai n ed
by m u lti p lyi n g 550cm
2
by th e n u m ber of
bi rd s k ep t i n th e cage;
e) floors of cages m u st be con stru cted so
as su p p ort each of th e forward - faci n g claws
of each foot of each bi rd . F loor slop e m u st
n ot exceed 1 4% or 8 d egrees wh en m ad e of
rectan gu lar wi re m esh an d 21 .3% or 1 2
d egrees for oth er typ es of floor; an d
45
46
47
15
conventional cages
f cages sh all be fi tted wi th su i table claw-
sh orten i n g d evi ces.
You sh ou ld also refer to th e E gg M ark eti n g
Stan d ard s see referen ce secti on ) regard i n g
eggs from caged h en s .
C ages sh ou ld be d esi gn ed an d m ai n tai n ed so as
to m i n i m i se d i scom fort an d d i stress an d to
p reven t i n ju ry to th e bi rd s.
D rop p i n gs sh ou ld n ot be allowed to fall on
bi rd s i n lower ti ers of cages. D rop p i n gs p i ts
below battery cages sh ou ld be closed off to
p reven t bi rd s gai n i n g access.
I f th ere i s evi d en ce th at th e claws of h en s are
fou n d to be overgrown or brok en , th en th e
p rovi si on of claw sh orten i n g d evi ces sh ou ld be
en h an ced . E xcessi vely abrasi ve d evi ces m ay
cau se i n ju ry so cau ti on sh ou ld be exerci sed i n
sp eci fyi n g su ch d evi ces.
Sch ed u le 3C , p rovi si on s ap p li cable to all cage
system s o th er th an th o se referred to i n
Sch ed u le 3B ) of th e Welfare of F arm ed An i m als
E n glan d ) A m en d m en t) R egu lati o n s 2 0 0 2
S.I . 2002 N o.1 646) states th at:
All cage system s oth er th an th ose referred
to i n Sch ed u le 3B ) sh all be en ri ch ed to
co m p ly wi th th e req u i rem en ts o f th i s
Sch ed u le.
L ayi n g h en s m u st h ave -
a) at least 750 cm
2
of cage area p er h en ,
600 cm
2
of wh i ch sh all be u sable; th e
h ei gh t of th e cage oth er th an th at above th e
u sable area* sh all be at least 20 cm at every
p oi n t an d n o cage sh all h ave a total area
th at i s less th an 2000 cm
2
;
b) a n est;
c) li tter su ch th at p eck i n g an d scratch i n g
are p ossi ble;
d ) ap p rop ri ate p erch es allowi n g at least
1 5 cm p er h en .
enriched cages
A feed trou gh wh i ch m ay be u sed wi th ou t
restri cti on m u st be p rovi d ed . I ts len gth m u st
be at least 1 2 cm m u lti p li ed by th e n u m ber of
h en s i n th e cage.
E ach cage m u st h ave a d ri n k i n g system
ap p rop ri ate to th e si ze of th e grou p ; wh ere
n i p p le d ri n k ers are p rovi d ed , at least two
n i p p le d ri n k ers or two cu p s m u st be wi th i n
th e reach of each h en .
To faci li tate i n sp ecti o n , i n stallati o n an d
d ep o p u lati o n o f h en s th ere m u st b e a
m i n i m u m ai sle wi d th of 90 cm between ti ers
of cages an d a sp ace of at least 35 cm m u st be
allowed between th e floor of th e bu i ld i n g an d
th e bottom ti er of cages.
C ages m u st be fi tted wi th su i table claw-
sh orten i n g d evi ces.
* M i n i m u m cage h ei gh t at th e lowest p oi n t i n
th e u sable area i s 45cm .
You sh ou ld also refer to th e E gg M ark eti n g
Stan d ard s see referen ce secti on ) regard i n g
eggs from caged h en s .
I f th ere i s evi d en ce th at claws of h en s are fou n d
to be overgrown or brok en th e p rovi si on of
claw sh orten i n g d evi ces sh ou ld be en h an ced .
E xcessi vely abrasi ve d evi ces m ay cau se i n ju ry
so cau ti on sh ou ld be exerci sed i n sp eci fyi n g
su ch d evi ces.
T h e ai sle wi d th sh ou ld be m easu red as th e
u n obstru cted wi d th between th e ou ter ed ges of
th e feed trou gh s. T h e d i stan ce to th e floor
sh ou ld be m easu red to th e m esh base of th e
cage.
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16
code for the w elfare of laying hens
50
51
52
53
environm ent
Sch ed u le 1 , p aragrap h 1 3 of th e Welfare of
F arm ed An i m als E n glan d ) R egu lati on s 2000
S.I . 2000 N o.1 870) states th at:
- Ai r ci rcu lati on , d u st levels, tem p eratu re,
relati ve ai r h u m i d i ty an d gas con cen trati on s
sh all be k ep t wi th i n li m i ts wh i ch are n ot
h arm fu l to th e an i m als.
P rovi si on of i n su lati on an d ven ti lati on sh ou ld
be d esi gn ed to avoi d h eat an d cold stress. C are
sh ou ld be tak en to p rotect con fi n ed bi rd s from
d rau gh ts i n cold con d i ti on s.
B i rd s, p arti cu larly th ose i n cages, sh ou ld n ot be
ex p o sed to stro n g d i rect su n li gh t o r h o t
su rrou n d i n gs lon g en ou gh to cau se h eat stress
as i n d i cated by p rolon ged p an ti n g.
I n th e even t of feath er loss, step s sh ou ld be
tak en wh erever p ossi ble to en su re th at h en s are
n ot su bjected to cold stress; for exam p le, h en s
sh ou ld be gi ven m ore food .
T h e ven ti lati on system , an d faci li ti es for stori n g
an d h an d li n g li tter an d m an u re sh ou ld be
d esi gn ed , m ai n tai n ed an d m an aged to p reven t
th e exp osu re of bi rd s to gases su ch as am m on i a,
h yd rogen su lp h i d e, carbon d i oxi d e, carbon
m o n o x i d e i n co n cen trati o n s wh i ch cau se
d i sco m fo rt to th e b i rd s o r wh i ch are
d etri m en tal to th ei r h ealth .
Sch ed u le 1 , p aragrap h s 1 4-1 6 of th e Welfare of
F arm ed An i m als E n glan d ) R egu lati on s 2000
S.I . 2000 N o. 1 870) , state th at:
- An i m als k ep t i n bu i ld i n gs sh all n ot be k ep t i n
p erm an en t d ark n ess.
- Wh ere th e n atu ral li gh t avai lable i n a bu i ld i n g
i s i n su ffi ci en t to m eet th e p h ysi ologi cal an d
eth ologi cal n eed s of an y an i m als bei n g k ep t i n
i t th en ap p rop ri ate arti fi ci al li gh ti n g sh all be
p rovi d ed .
- An i m als k ep t i n bu i ld i n gs sh all n ot be k ep t
wi th ou t an ap p rop ri ate p eri od of rest from
arti fi ci al li gh ti n g.
Sch ed u le 3D , p aragrap h 3 of th e Welfare of
F arm ed A n i m als E n glan d ) A m en d m en t)
R egu lati on s 2002 S.I . 2002 N o.1 646) states th at:
All bu i ld i n gs sh all h ave li gh t levels su ffi ci en t to
allow all h en s to see on e an oth er an d be seen
clearly, to i n vesti gate th ei r su rro u n d i n gs
vi su ally an d to sh ow n orm al levels of acti vi ty.
Wh ere th ere i s n atu ral li gh t, li gh t ap ertu res
m u st be arran ged i n su ch a way th at li gh t i s
d i stri bu ted even ly wi th i n th e accom m od ati on .
After th e fi rst few d ays of con d i ti on i n g, th e
li gh ti n g regi m e sh all be su ch as to p reven t
h ealth an d beh avi ou ral p roblem s. Accord i n gly
i t m u st follow a 24-h ou r rh yth m an d i n clu d e an
ad equ ate u n i n terru p ted p eri od of d ark n ess
lasti n g, by way of i n d i cati on , abou t on e th i rd of
th e d ay, so th at th e h en s m ay rest an d to avoi d
p ro b lem s su ch as i m m u n o d ep ressi o n an d
ocu lar an om ali es. A p eri od of twi li gh t of
su ffi ci en t d u rati on ou gh t to be p rovi d ed wh en
th e li gh t i s d i m m ed so th at th e h en s m ay settle
d own wi th ou t d i stu rban ce or i n ju ry.
I n n orm al con d i ti on s, i n cage an d m u lti -level
system s, li gh t i n ten si ty sh ou ld be at least 5 lu x,
an d p referably n ot less th an 1 0 lu x, m easu red at
an y feed trou gh level; i n oth er system s, li gh t
i n ten si ty i n th e p erch i n g, walk i n g an d feed i n g
areas sh ou ld be at least 1 0 lu x m easu red at bi rd
eye h ei gh t. H owever, a tem p orary red u cti on i n
li gh ti n g level m ay assi st i n ad d ressi n g
beh avi ou ral p roblem s su ch as feath er p eck i n g
or can n i bali sm .
I n all h ou ses, esp eci ally th ose wi th n atu ral
li gh t, m easu res sh ou ld be tak en to en su re th at
li gh t d i stri bu ti on i s as even as p ossi ble.
A p eri od of twi li gh t sh ou ld be p rovi d ed to gi ve
b i rd s ti m e to ro o st; th i s i s o f p arti cu lar
i m p ortan ce i n altern ati ve system s an d en ri ch ed
cages.
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55
56
17
ventilation, tem perature
light
18
Sch ed u le 3 of th e Welfare of F arm ed An i m als
E n glan d ) Am en d m en t) R egu lati on s 2002
S.I . 2002 N o.1 646) states th at:
Wh ere an y p ou ltry oth er th an th ose k ep t i n
th e system s referred to i n Sch ed u les 3A, 3B an d
3C ) are k ep t i n a bu i ld i n g th ey sh all be k ep t on ,
or h ave access at all ti m es to, well-m ai n tai n ed
li tter or to a well-d rai n ed area for resti n g.
Sch ed u le 3 A , p aragrap h 3 e) , p ro vi si o n s
ap p li cable to layi n g h en s k ep t i n n on -cage
system s, of th e Welfare of F arm ed An i m als
E n glan d ) Am en d m en t) R egu lati on s 2002
S.I . 2002 N o.1 646) states th at:
All system s m u st be equ i p p ed i n su ch a way
th at all layi n g h en s h ave:
- at least 250 cm
2
of li ttered area p er h en , th e
li tter occu p yi n g at least on e th i rd of th e
grou n d su rface.
Sch ed u le 3 C , p aragrap h 2 c) , p ro vi si o n s
ap p li cable to layi n g h en s k ep t i n en ri ch ed
cages, of th e Welfare of F arm ed An i m als
E n glan d ) Am en d m en t) R egu lati on s 2002
S.I . 2002 N o.1 646) states th at:
L ayi n g h en s m u st h ave -
li tter su ch th at p eck i n g an d scratch i n g are
p ossi ble.
I n altern ati ve system s, all bi rd s sh ou ld h ave
access to a li ttered area wh i ch sh ou ld be
m ai n tai n ed i n a fri able con d i ti on an d at an
ad equ ate d ep th for d u st bath i n g, ap p roxi m ately
1 0 cm . To en su re good li tter m an agem en t, th i s
d ep th of li tter m ay be m ad e u p over th e fi rst
two m on th s of u se. B i rd s sh ou ld h ave access to
good qu ali ty su bstrate for d u st bath i n g an d to
p reven t h ealth p roblem s, i n p arti cu lar foot, leg
an d breast lesi on s.
57
litter
M ou ld y li tter sh ou ld n ot be u sed . T h ere sh ou ld
be frequ en t ch eck s to en su re th at li tter d oes n ot
b eco m e i n fested wi th h arm fu l o rgan i sm s
p arasi ti c to bi rd s.
Atten ti on sh ou ld also be p ai d to th e ad vi ce
gi ven i n th e D E F R A book let P ou ltry L i tter
M an agem en t .
Sch ed u le 3D , p aragrap h 2 of th e Welfare of
F arm ed A n i m als E n glan d ) A m en d m en t)
R egu lati on s 2002 S.I . 2002 N o.1 646) states th at:
T h e sou n d level sh all be m i n i m i sed . C on stan t
or su d d en n oi se sh all be avoi d ed . Ven ti lati on
fan s, feed i n g m ach i n ery or oth er equ i p m en t
sh all be con stru cted , p laced , op erated an d
m ai n tai n ed i n su ch a way th at th ey cau se th e
least p ossi ble n oi se.
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59
noise
code for the w elfare of laying hens
Sch ed u le 1 , p aragrap h 1 7 of th e Welfare of
F arm ed An i m als E n glan d ) R egu lati on s 2000
S.I . 2000, N o. 1 870) states th at:
An i m als n ot k ep t i n bu i ld i n gs sh all, wh ere
n ecessary an d p ossi ble, be gi ven p rotecti on
from ad verse weath er con d i ti on s, p red ators an d
ri sk s to th ei r h ealth an d sh all, at all ti m es, h ave
access to a well-d rai n ed lyi n g area.
Sch ed u le 3A, p aragrap h s 5 b) i ) an d i i ) ,
p rovi si on s ap p li cable to layi n g h en s k ep t i n
n on -cage system s, of th e Welfare of F arm ed
An i m als E n glan d ) Am en d m en t R egu lati on s
2002 S.I . 2002 N o.1 646) states th at:
I f layi n g h en s h ave access to op en ru n s:
i ) th ere m u st be several p op h oles gi vi n g
d i rect access to th e ou ter area, at least 35
cm h i gh an d 40 cm wi d e an d exten d i n g
alon g th e en ti re len gth of th e bu i ld i n g; i n
an y case, a total op en i n g of 2 m m u st be
avai lable p er grou p of 1 ,000 h en s; an d
i i ) o p en ru n s m u st b e o f an area
ap p rop ri ate to th e stock i n g d en si ty an d to
th e n atu re of th e grou n d , i n ord er to p reven t
an y co n tam i n ati o n , an d eq u i p p ed wi th
sh elter fro m i n clem en t weath er an d
p red ato rs an d , i f n ecessary, ap p ro p ri ate
d ri n k i n g trou gh s.
You sh ou ld also refer to th e E gg M ark eti n g
Stan d ard s see referen ce secti on )
regard i n g free ran ge eggs .
Wh ere bi rd s are k ep t exten si vely an d are free to
ran ge i t i s i m p ortan t to p rovi d e som e overh ead
sh elter. R easo n ab le p recau ti o n s sh o u ld b e
tak en to p rotect bi rd s agai n st p red ators, d ogs
an d cats. Sh elter from rai n , su n an d cold sh ou ld
always b e avai lab le wh en n ecessary.
Wi n d break s sh ou ld be p rovi d ed on exp osed
lan d .
H ou si n g u sed by ran ge bi rd s sh ou ld be of
su ffi ci en t stan d ard to en su re th at th e bi rd s are
n ot su bject to d i stress cau sed by extrem es of
tem p eratu re.
F actors su ch as soi l typ e, d rai n age an d si ze of
colon y an d frequ en cy of flock rotati on are very
i m p ortan t i n d eci d i n g th e n u m ber of bi rd s th at
a p arti cu lar area can carry. H eavy, p oorly
d rai n ed soi l can carry fewer bi rd s th an lan d th at
i s li gh t an d well d rai n ed .
I t i s i m p ortan t to establi sh a system of rotati on
of grazi n g or h ou se m ovem en t i n ord er to
p reven t p oach i n g an d bu i ld u p of p arasi ti c
i n fecti on an d d i sease. Wh ere h ou ses i n free-
ran ge system s are to rem ai n i n on e locati on ,
step s sh ou ld be tak en to p reven t th e grou n d
i m m ed i ately aro u n d th e h o u se b eco m i n g
p oach ed an d th e soi l sh ou ld be sam p led for
evi d en ce of worm eggs. F lock s an d p ortable
h o u ses sh o u ld b e m o ved wi th su ffi ci en t
regu lari ty to avo i d co n ti n u o u sly m u d d y
con d i ti on s an d / or con tam i n ati on of th e lan d
wi th organ i sm s wh i ch cau se or carry d i sease to
an exten t wh i ch cou ld seri ou sly p reju d i ce th e
h ealth of p ou ltry. U n less th e h ou se i s m oved
frequ en tly i t i s good p racti ce to p rotect th e
grou n d i m m ed i ately ad jacen t to i t, e.g. by
p rovi d i n g slatted or wi re m esh p latform s,
covered veran d as or areas of gravel.
B i rd s sh ou ld be en cou raged to u se th e ou td oor
area by th e p rovi si on of ad equ ate su i table,
p rop erly m an aged vegetati on , ou td oor scratch
wh ole grai n feed i n g, a fresh su p p ly of water an d
overh ead cover, all su ffi ci en tly far from th e
h ou se to en cou rage th e bi rd s to ran ge.
Wh en bi rd s are tran sferred to ran ge h ou ses,
p recau ti on s sh ou ld be tak en to avoi d crowd i n g
an d su ffocati on , p arti cu larly d u ri n g th e fi rst
few n i gh ts. C an n i bali sm i s a d an ger u n d er th i s
system , an d bi rd s sh ou ld n ot n orm ally be
con fi n ed for too lon g d u ri n g h ou rs of d ayli gh t
o r su b jected to d i rect su n li gh t d u ri n g
con fi n em en t.
Wh ere th e area wi th i n a veran d a attach ed to a
free ran ge h ou se i s i n clu d ed i n th e calcu lati on
of floor sp ace, i t m u st h ave th e sam e arti fi ci al
li gh ti n g system as wi th i n th e i n n er p art of th e
u n i t, th e p op h oles m u st m eet th e requ i rem en ts
of th e legi slati on an d con ti n u ou s p op h ole
access m u st be p rovi d ed between th e h ou se an d
th e veran d a.
anim als w ith access to open runs
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62
63
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65
66
19
Sch ed u le 1 , p aragrap h s 1 8 of th e Welfare of
F arm ed An i m als E n glan d ) R egu lati on s 2000
S.I . 2000 N o. 1 870) states th at:
- All au tom ated or m ech an i cal equ i p m en t
essen ti al for th e h ealth an d well bei n g of th e
an i m als sh all be i n sp ected at least on ce a d ay to
ch eck th at th ere i s n o d efect i n i t.
Sch ed u le 1 , p aragrap h 1 9 states th at:
- Wh ere d efects i n au tom ated or m ech an i cal
equ i p m en t of th e typ e referred to i n p aragrap h
1 8 of Sch ed u le 1 are d i scovered , th ese sh all be
recti fi ed i m m ed i ately, or i f th i s i s i m p ossi ble,
ap p rop ri ate step s sh all be tak en to safegu ard
th e h ealth an d well-bei n g of th e an i m als
p en d i n g th e recti fi cati o n o f su ch d efects,
i n clu d i n g th e u se of altern ati ve m eth od s of
feed i n g an d wateri n g an d m eth od s of p rovi d i n g
an d m ai n tai n i n g a sati sfactory en vi ron m en t.
O n arti fi ci al ven ti lati on system s, Sch ed u le 1 ,
p aragrap h 20 states th at wh ere th e h ealth an d
well-bei n g of th e an i m als i s d ep en d en t on su ch
a system :
a) p ro vi si o n sh all b e m ad e fo r an
ap p rop ri ate back -u p system to gu aran tee
su ffi ci en t ai r ren ewal to p reserve th e h ealth
an d well-bei n g of th e an i m als i n th e even t of
th e fai lu re of th e system ; an d
b) an alarm system wh i ch wi ll op erate
even i f th e p ri n ci p al electri ci ty su p p ly to i t
h as fai led ) sh all be p rovi d ed to gi ve warn i n g
of an y fai lu re of th e system .
Sch ed u le 1 , p aragrap h 21 states th at:
- T h e back -u p system referred to i n p aragrap h
2 0 a) o f Sch ed u le 1 sh all b e th o ro u gh ly
i n sp ected an d th e alarm system referred to i n
p aragrap h 20b) of Sch ed u le 1 sh all each be
tested at least on ce every seven d ays i n ord er to
ch eck th at th ere i s n o d efect i n th e system an d ,
i f an y d efect i s fou n d wh eth er wh en th e
system i s i n sp ected or tested i n accord an ce
wi th th i s p aragrap h or at an y oth er ti m e) , i t
sh all be recti fi ed i m m ed i ately.
P ri or to i n stalli n g m ore com p lex or elaborate
equ i p m en t th an p revi ou sly u sed , con si d erati on
sh ou ld be gi ven to th e qu esti on of an i m al
welfare. I n gen eral th e greater th e restri cti on
i m p osed on th e bi rd an d th e greater th e
com p lexi ty of th e system or d egree of con trol
wh i ch i s exerci sed over tem p eratu re, ai r flow or
food su p p ly, th e less th e bi rd i s able to u se i ts
i n sti n cti ve beh avi ou r to m od i fy th e effect of
u n favou rable con d i ti on s an d th e greater th e
ch an ce of su fferi n g i f m ech an i cal or electri cal
fai lu res occu r. T h u s system s i n volvi n g a h i gh
d egree of con trol over th e en vi ron m en t sh ou ld
on ly be i n stalled wh ere con sci en ti ou s staff
sk i lled i n both p ou ltry h u sban d ry an d th e u se
of th e equ i p m en t wi ll always be avai lable.
All equ i p m en t an d servi ces i n clu d i n g feed
h op p ers, d ri n k ers, ven ti lati n g fan s, h eati n g an d
li gh ti n g u n i ts, fi re exti n gu i sh ers an d alarm
system s sh o u ld b e clean ed an d i n sp ected
regu larly an d k ep t i n good work i n g ord er. All
au tom ated equ i p m en t, u p on wh i ch th e bi rd s'
welfare i s d ep en d en t, m u st i n corp orate a fai l-
safe an d /or stan d by d evi ce an d , on au tom ated
ven ti lati on system s, an alarm system to warn
th e flock -k eep er of fai lu re. D efects sh ou ld be
recti fi ed i m m ed i ately or oth er m easu res tak en
to safegu ard th e h ealth an d welfare of th e bi rd s.
Altern ati ve ways of feed i n g an d of m ai n tai n i n g
a sati sfactory en vi ron m en t sh ou ld th erefore be
read y for u se.
All electri cal i n stallati on s at m ai n s voltage
sh ou ld be i n accessi ble to th e bi rd s an d p rop erly
earth ed .
autom atic or m echanical equipm ent 20
67
68
69
code for the w elfare of laying hens
Sch ed u le 3D , p aragrap h s 8 an d 9 of th e Welfare
of F arm ed An i m als E n glan d ) Am en d m en t
R egu lati on s 2002 S.I . 2002 N o.1 646) layi n g
d own con d i ti on s ap p li cable to layi n g h en s i n all
system s states th at:
Su bject to p aragrap h 9 below) , n o p erson sh all
m u ti late an y layi n g h en .
I n o rd er to p reven t feath er p eck i n g an d
can n i bali sm , u n ti l 31 D ecem ber 201 0, beak
tri m m i n g of bi rd s i s p erm i tted i n all system s set
ou t i n Sch ed u les 3A, 3B an d 3C p rovi d ed i t i s
carri ed ou t
a) by p erson s over 1 8 years of age
b) on ch i ck en s th at are less th an 1 0 d ays
old an d i n ten d ed for layi n g; an d
c) i n acco rd an ce wi th th e Veteri n ary
Su rgery E x em p ti o n s O rd er 1 9 6 2
SI 1 962/2557) .
T h e Welfare o f L i vesto ck P ro h i b i ted
O p erati on s R egu lati on s 1 982 S.I . 1 982 N o.
1 884) p roh i bi ts an y op erati on on a bi rd wi th
th e object or effect of i m p ed i n g i ts fli gh t oth er
th an feath er cli p p i n g) or th e fi tti n g of an y
ap p li an ce wh i ch h as th e object or effect of
li m i ti n g vi si on to a bi rd by a m eth od i n volvi n g
th e p en etrati on or oth er m u ti lati on of th e n asal
sep tu m .
Wh en n ot carri ed ou t by a veteri n ary su rgeon
b eak -tri m m i n g m u st b e carri ed o u t i n
acco rd an ce wi th th e Veteri n ary Su rgery
E xem p ti on s O rd er 1 962 S.I . 1 962 N o. 2557)
i .e.: rem oval from a bi rd by m ean s of a su i table
i n stru m en t of :-
i ) n ot m ore th an a on e-th i rd p art of both i ts
u p p er an d lower beak s, m easu red from th e
ti p toward s th e en tran ce of th e n ostri ls, i f
carri ed ou t as a si n gle op erati on ; or
i i ) n ot m ore th an a on e-th i rd p art of i ts
u p p er beak on ly, m easu red i n th e sam e way;
an d th e arrest o f an y su b seq u en t
h aem orrh age from th e beak by cau teri sati on .
N oth i n g i n th e foregoi n g p rovi si on s sh all
au th o ri se th e p erfo rm an ce o f an y m i n o r
treatm en t, test or op erati on by a p erson u n d er
th e age of 1 8.
Wh ere beak tri m m i n g i s carri ed ou t i t sh ou ld ,
wh erever p o ssi b le, b e restri cted to b eak
ti p p i n g; th at i s, th e blu n ti n g of th e beak to
rem ove th e sh arp p oi n t wh i ch can be th e cau se
of th e m ost severe d am age to oth er bi rd s.
B eak tri m m i n g sh ou ld be carri ed ou t to th e
h i gh est p o ssi b le stan d ard s b y trai n ed
op erators. O p erators sh ou ld con ti n u ally be re-
evalu ated for effi ci en cy of th ei r beak tri m m i n g
sk i lls.
I f beh avi ou ral p roblem s occu r, wh i ch m an i fest
th em selves i n i n ju ri ou s feath er p eck i n g, th ey
sh ou ld be tack led i m m ed i ately by ap p rop ri ate
ch an ges i n th e system of m an agem en t; for
exam p le, by red u cti on of th e li gh ti n g i n ten si ty.
R esearch also i n d i cates th at avai labi li ty of good
qu ali ty li tter, p arti cu larly sh avi n gs, en cou rages
foragi n g an d d u stbath i n g an d h en ce red u ces
th e feath er-p eck i n g ten d en cy.
m utilations 21
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71
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22 breeding procedures
Sch ed u le 1 , p aragrap h 28 of th e Welfare of
F arm ed An i m als E n glan d ) R egu lati on s 2000
S.I . 2000 N o. 1 870) states th at:
- Su b ject to su b -p aragrap h 2 ) b elo w) ,
n atu ral o r arti fi ci al b reed i n g o r b reed i n g
p ro ced u res wh i ch cau se, o r are li k ely to
cau se, su fferi n g o r i n ju ry to an y o f th e
an i m als con cern ed sh all n ot be p racti sed .
- Su b -p aragrap h 1 ) ab o ve) sh all n o t
p reclu d e th e u se o f n atu ral o r arti fi ci al
breed i n g p roced u res th at are li k ely to cau se
m i n i m al or m om en tary su fferi n g or i n ju ry or
th at m i gh t n ecessi tate i n terven ti on s wh i ch
wou ld n ot cau se lasti n g i n ju ry.
Sch ed u le 1 , p aragrap h 29 states th at:
- N o an i m als sh all b e k ep t fo r farm i n g
p u rp o ses u n less i t can reaso n ab ly b e
exp ected , on th e basi s of th ei r gen otyp e or
p h en otyp e, th at th ey can be k ep t wi th ou t
d etri m en tal effect on th ei r h ealth or welfare.
Wh en co n si d eri n g th e estab li sh m en t o r
rep lacem en t of a flock , th e ch oi ce of h ybri d
sh ou ld be m ad e wi th th e ai m of red u ci n g th e
ri sk of welfare an d h ealth p roblem s.
73
code for the w elfare of laying hens
T h e Welfare of An i m als Tran sp ort) O rd er
1 9 9 7 S. I . 1 9 9 7 N o . 1 4 8 0 ) co vers th e
tran sp ort of an i m als, i n clu d i n g bi rd s. Am on g
oth er requ i rem en ts:
Arti cle 4 states th at: n o p erson sh all tran sp ort
an y an i m al i n a way wh i ch cau ses or i s li k ely
to cau se i n ju ry or u n n ecessary su fferi n g to
th at an i m al.
Arti cle 6 states th at n o p erson sh all tran sp ort
an y an i m al u n less: -
a) i t i s fi t for i ts i n ten d ed jou rn ey, an d
b) su i table p rovi si on h as been m ad e for i ts
care d u ri n g th e jou rn ey an d on arri val at
th e p lace of d esti n ati on .
F or th ese p u rp oses an an i m al sh all n ot be
con si d ered fi t for i ts i n ten d ed jou rn ey i f i t i s
i ll, i n ju red , i n fi rm or fati gu ed , u n less i t i s
on ly sli gh tly i n ju red , i ll, i n fi rm or fati gu ed
an d th e i n ten d ed jou rn ey i s n ot li k ely to
cau se i t u n n ecessary su fferi n g.
A rti cle 1 0 1 ) req u i res th at an y p erso n
tran sp orti n g an i m als sh all en su re th at th e
an i m als are tran sp orted wi th ou t d elay to th ei r
p lace of d esti n ati on .
Arti cle 1 0 2) requ i res th at i n th e case of
an i m als tran sp o rted i n a recep tacle, an y
p erson i n ch arge of th e an i m als sh all en su re
th at th ey are n ot cau sed i n ju ry or u n n ecessary
su fferi n g wh i le th ey are i n th e recep tacle
ei th er wai ti n g to be load ed on to th e m ean s of
tran sp ort or after th ey h ave been u n load ed .
Sch ed u le 3 P art I ) requ i res th at m ean s of
tran sp ort an d recep tacles sh all be con stru cted ,
m ai n tai n ed , o p erated an d p o si ti o n ed to
p rovi d e ad equ ate ven ti lati on an d ai r sp ace.
R ecep tacles i n wh i ch an i m als are carri ed sh all
be con stru cted an d m ai n tai n ed so th at th ey
allow for ap p rop ri ate i n sp ecti on an d care of
th e an i m als. R ecep tacles i n wh i ch an i m als are
carri ed sh all be of su ch a si ze as to p rotect th e
an i m als from i n ju ry an d u n n ecessary su fferi n g
d u ri n g tran sp ort. R ecep tacles i n wh i ch bi rd s
are tran sp o rted sh all b e co n stru cted an d
m ai n tai n ed so th at th ey p reven t an y p rotru si on
of th e h ead s, legs or wi n gs from th em .
B i rd s sh ou ld n ot be d ep ri ved of feed or water
b efo re tran sp o rt; h o wever, feed , b u t n o t
water, m ay be wi th h eld for u p to 1 2 h ou rs
p ri or to slau gh ter. T h i s p eri od of 1 2 h ou rs
m u st be an i n clu si ve p eri od to i n clu d e th e
catch i n g, load i n g, tran sp ort, lai ragi n g an d
u n load i n g ti m e p ri or to slau gh ter.
E very effort sh ou ld be m ad e to co-ord i n ate
co llecti o n ti m es wi th p ro d u cti o n
requ i rem en ts at th e slau gh terh ou se, i n ord er
to li m i t th e ti m e bi rd s are h eld i n con tai n ers
before an d after tran sp ort.
B efore d e-p op u lati n g h ou ses, an y h i n d ran ce
from fi xtu res an d fi tti n gs, esp eci ally sh arp
ed ges an d p rotru si on s, m u st be rem oved .
C are m u st be tak en i n catch i n g bi rd s i n ord er
to avoi d p an i c an d su bsequ en t i n ju ry to an d
sm o th eri n g o f th e b i rd s, fo r ex am p le b y
red u ci n g th e i n ten si ty of th e li gh t or u si n g a
blu e li gh t.
P arti cu lar care sh ou ld be tak en wh en m ovi n g
bi rd s wi th i n a h ou se to en su re th at n o bi rd i s
i n ju red b y th e eq u i p m en t o r h an d li n g
p ro cess. T h e p ro p er h an d li n g o f b i rd s
requ i res sk i ll, an d i t sh ou ld be u n d ertak en
on ly by com p eten t p erson s wh o h ave been
ap p rop ri ately trai n ed . I t sh ou ld be carri ed ou t
qu i etly an d con fi d en tly, exerci si n g care to
avoi d u n n ecessary stru ggli n g wh i ch cou ld
bru i se or oth erwi se i n ju re th e bi rd s. F or
catch i n g bi rd s i n cages, th ey m u st be rem oved
from th e cage si n gly an d to avoi d i n ju ry or
su fferi n g an d m u st be h eld by B O T H legs. T h e
breast sh ou ld be su p p orted d u ri n g rem oval
from th e cage. L oose-h ou sed bi rd s m u st be
cau gh t an d h eld by B O T H legs to avoi d i n ju ry
or su fferi n g.
I n all system s, bi rd s sh ou ld on ly be carri ed by
both legs an d care tak en to avoi d h i tti n g soli d
o b jects p arti cu larly i f wi n gs are flap p i n g.
T h ey sh ou ld n ot be carri ed by th ei r wi n gs,
h ead s or n eck s. T h e n u m ber of bi rd s carri ed
wi ll d ep en d u p on th e si ze of th e bi rd an d th e
abi li ty of th e carri er bu t a m axi m u m of 3 p er
h an d m u st n ot be exceed ed .
D i stan ces b i rd s are carri ed sh o u ld b e
m i n i m i sed , for exam p le by bri n gi n g tran sp ort
con tai n ers as close as p ossi ble to th e bi rd s.
catching and transport
74
75
76
77
78
23
24
T ran sp o rt co n tai n ers wi th large o p en i n gs
sh ou ld be u sed to avoi d d am age to th e bi rd s;
th e d esi gn , si ze an d state of rep ai r of an y
con tai n er u sed to carry bi rd s sh ou ld allow
th em to be p u t i n , con veyed an d tak en ou t
wi th ou t i n ju ry.
D u ri n g th e ti m e b i rd s are h eld i n th e
con tai n ers th ey sh ou ld be p rotected from bad
weath er an d ex cessi vely h o t o r co ld
con d i ti on s. T h ey sh ou ld n ot be allowed to
becom e stressed as i n d i cated by p rolon ged
p an ti n g) by bei n g left i n con tai n ers exp osed
to stro n g d i rect su n li gh t. A d eq u ate
ven ti lati on for th e bi rd s i s essen ti al at all
ti m es.
C are sh ou ld also be tak en wh en crates are
lo ad ed o n to veh i cles, an d i n th ei r
tran sp o rtati o n an d u n lo ad i n g, to avo i d
p h ysi cally sh ock i n g th e bi rd s.
B i rd s th at can n ot be tran sp orted becau se th ey
are u n fi t to travel d u e to bei n g i ll, i n ju red ,
i n fi rm or fati gu ed sh ou ld be gi ven p rom p t
veteri n ary treatm en t or h u m an ely d esp atch ed
on farm wi th ou t d elay.
79
80
81
82
appendix 25
references
F o r lab elli n g p u rp o ses o n ly, C o m m i ssi o n
R egu lati on E E C ) N o 1 274/91 O J N o L 1 21
of 1 6.5.91 ) as am en d ed , requ i res th at p ou ltry
en terp ri ses m u st com p ly wi th th e followi n g
m i n i m u m cri teri a i n ord er to m ark th ei r sm all
egg p ack s wi th th e term s sh own :
a) F ree ran ge eggs m u st be p rod u ced i n
p ou ltry establi sh m en ts wh i ch sati sfy at least
th e con d i ti on s sp eci fi ed i n Arti cle 4 of
D i recti ve 1 999/74/E C wi th effect from th e
d ates referred to i n th at Arti cle an d i n
wh i ch :
- h en s h ave con ti n u ou s d ayti m e access to
o p en -ai r ru n s, ex cep t i n cases o f
tem p o rary restri cti o n s i m p o sed b y
veteri n ary au th ori ti es;
- th e op en -ai r ru n s to wh i ch h en s h ave
access i s m ai n ly covered wi th vegetati on
an d n ot u sed for oth er p u rp oses excep t
fo r o rch ard s, wo o d lan d an d li vesto ck
grazi n g i f th e latter i s au th ori sed by th e
com p eten t au th ori ti es;
- th e op en -ai r ru n s m u st at least sati sfy
th e con d i ti on s sp eci fi ed i n Arti cle 4 1 )
3 ) b ) i i ) o f D i recti ve 1 9 9 9 /7 4 /E C
wh ereby th e m axi m u m stock i n g d en si ty
i s n ot greater th an 2,500 h en s p er h ectare
of grou n d avai lable to th e h en s or on e h en
p er 4m
2
at all ti m es an d th e ru n s are n ot
exten d i n g beyon d a rad i u s of 1 50m from
th e n earest p op h ole of th e bu i ld i n g; an
exten si on of u p to 350m from th e n earest
p op h ole i s p erm i ssi ble p rovi d ed th at a
su ffi ci en t n u m b er o f sh elters an d
d ri n k i n g trou gh s wi th i n th e m ean i n g of
th at p ro vi si o n are even ly d i stri b u ted
th rou gh ou t th e wh ole op en -ai r ru n wi th
at least fou r sh elters p er h ectare
b ) B arn eggs m u st b e p ro d u ced i n
p o u ltry estab li sh m en ts wh i ch sati sfy at
least th e con d i ti on s sp eci fi ed i n Arti cle 4 of
D i recti ve 1 999/74/E C wi th effect from th e
d ates referred to i n th at Arti cle.
c) E ggs fro m caged h en s m u st b e
p rod u ced i n p ou ltry establi sh m en ts wh i ch
sati sfy at least:
- th e con d i ti on s sp eci fi ed i n D i recti ve
88/1 66/E E C u n ti l 31 .1 2.2002;
- th e con d i ti on s sp eci fi ed i n Arti cle 5 of
D i recti ve 1 999/74/E C as from 1 .1 .2003
u n ti l 31 .1 2.201 1 , or:
- th e con d i ti on s sp eci fi ed i n Arti cle 6 of
D i recti ve 1 999/74/E C as from 1 .1 .2002.
code for the w elfare of laying hens
26
Publications available from DEFRA
PB No. Title
0621 F arm F i res: Ad vi ce on F arm An i m al Welfare
1 1 47 E m ergen ci es on L i vestock F arm s
1 31 5 H eat Stress i n P ou ltry: solvi n g th e p roblem
1 739 P ou ltry L i tter M an agem en t
2594 E xp lan atory G u i d e to th e Welfare of An i m als Slau gh ter or K i lli n g) R egu lati on s 1 995
2630 C od e of p racti ce for th e P reven ti on of R od en t I n festati on s i n P ou ltry F lock s
3476 Welfare of P ou ltry at Slau gh ter: A P ock et G u i d e
3724 G u i d e to Allevi ati on of T h erm al Stress i n P ou ltry i n L ai rage
6490 T h e Welfare of H en s i n F ree R an ge System s
1 435 A G u i d e to th e P ou ltry B reed i n g F lock s an d H atch eri es O rd er 1 993
C op i es of th e above p u bli cati on s can be
obtai n ed , free of ch arge, from : -
DEFRAPublications
Admail 6000
London
SW1A 2XX
Telephone Orders (for free publications)
0845 955 6000
Telephone Enquiries: 0845 955 6000
Email: defra@iforcegroup.com
Website: http://www.defra.gov.uk
These publications are updated on a
regular basis; for more information on the
most current versions and new literature
please contact DEFRAs Animal Welfare
Division on 020 7904 6512
C op i es of th e legi slati on qu oted i n th e C od e
are avai lable from T h e Stati on ery O ffi ce:
TSO Publications Centre
PO Box 29
Norwich NR3 1GN
Telephone orders: 0870 600 5522
Email: book.enquiries@theso.co.uk
Website: http://www.clicktso.com
useful publications
code for the w elfare of laying hens
27
I f you wou ld li k e an y fu rth er i n form ati on or
ad vi ce relati n g to th i s cod e p lease con tact
D E F R A s An i m al Welfare D i vi si on on
020 7904 651 2
O th er u sefu l i n form ati on can be fou n d i n :
Joi n t I n d u stry Welfare G u i d e to th e
H an d li n g of E n d of L ay H en s an d B reed ers .
T h e H u m an e Slau gh ter Associ ati on s B ook let:
T h e P racti cal Slau gh ter of P ou ltry A
G u i d e for th e Sm all P rod u cer I SB N n u m ber
1 871 561 1 67.
Avai lable from
www.d efra.gov.u k /food ri n /p ou ltry:
E xp lan atory leaflet on th e E C egg m ark eti n g
stan d ard s regu lati on s
E xp lan atory L eaflet E M R 1 )
E xp lan atory leaflet on th e p rod u cti on
m eth od s for eggs m ark eted u n d er th e sp eci al
m ark eti n g term s
E xp lan atory L eaflet E M R 1 4)
Avai lable from
www.d efra.gov.u k /food ri n /p ou ltry or
www.eu rop a.eu .i n t/eu r-lex/en /li f/i n d ex.h tm l:
C on soli d ated versi on of C om m i ssi on
R egu lati on E E C ) N o. 1 274/91
O J N o L 1 21 of 1 6.5.1 991 ) as am en d ed .
further inform ation
F u rth e r c o p ie s o f th is p u b lic a tio n a re a va ila b le fro m :
D E F R A P u b lic a tio n s
A d m a il 6 0 0 0
L o n d o n
S W1 A 2 XX
Te l: 0 8 4 5 9 5 5 6 0 0 0
P rin te d o n R e c yc le d P a p e r c o n ta in in g 7 5 % p o st c o n su m e r wa ste
C ro wn C o p yrig h t J u ly 2 0 0 2 P B 7 2 7 4