Animal welfare: Welfare of laying hens
National Legislation
The welfare of laying hens is protected by the Animal Welfare Act 2006 under which it is an offence to cause unnecessary suffering to any animal. The Act also contains a Duty of Care to animals - this means that anyone responsible for an animal must take reasonable steps to make sure the animal’s needs are met. This means that a person has to look after an animal’s welfare as well as ensure that it does not suffer.
These general requirements are supplemented by detailed requirements set out in the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007 (SI 2007 No 2078). These Regulations replaced the Welfare of FarmedAnimals (England) Regulations 2000 (as amended) on 1st October 2007. The new Regulations are made under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The content of the new Regulations is very similar to the previous Regulations.
Schedule 2 of the Regulations covers hens kept in non-cage systems; 
Schedule 3 of the Regulations covers hens kept in conventional cages;
Schedule 4 of the Regulations covers hens kept in enriched cages; and
Schedule 5 of the Regulations applies to all laying hens and covers areas such as inspection, lighting and sound levels.
Further information on the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007 is available.
Similar legislation exists in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. For further information on animal welfare in these areas please contact the appropriate devolved administration.
Welfare code
- There is a Code of Recommendations for the Welfare of laying hens, which contains advice for stock-keepers on best husbandry practice. The existing Code continues to apply under the new Animal Welfare Act, but with the introduction of the Act and the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007, the references to the legislation throughout the code are now out of date. Whilst the vast majority of the 2000 Regulations are replicated by the 2007 Regulations, you should check the legislation as it currently stands;
- Welfare codes are not law, but failure to follow their provisions may be used as evidence in court when a prosecution is taken for causing unnecessary pain or unnecessary distress to livestock;
- A new welfare code for laying hens
(106KB) was published on 22 July 2003;
- Similar Codes exist for Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Europe
- Council Directive 99/74/EC, which was adopted in 1999, lays down minimum standards for the welfare of laying hens. The Directive came into effect in all Member States on 1 January 2002.
- This was implemented in England through the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2002 (SI 2002 No. 1646) which came into force on 25 June 2002. As of 1st October 2007 these Regulations have been replaced by the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007. The new Regulations are made under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The content of the new Regulations is very similar to the previous Regulations.
The Council Directive and English implementing legislation:
- Set down minimum standards for non-cage systems (barn, free-range). These came into effect on 1 January 2007;
- Ban conventional cages from 2012. From 1 January 2003, no new conventional cage systems may be brought into use;
- Set out minimum standards for "enriched" cages including increased space allowance, claw shortening device, perch, nest boxes and litter for scratching and pecking.
The Directive required the EU Commission to prepare a report by 2005 on the various systems that exist for keeping laying hens, including their health and environmental impact. The Government has welcomed the publication of this long-awaited report, which was published on 8 January 2008. A copy of the report can be downloaded from the EU’s website. The report recommends that there is no need to prepare any proposals to amend the existing Directive and recommends that the 2012 deadline for ending the use of conventional cages across the EU should remain. The Government welcomes this recommendation as we remain committed to the 2012 deadline.
R & D
-
Research programme reflects need to gather scientific evidence for the review of the Directive.
- Current programme covers work on stocking density in alternative systems, "enriched" cages, and the effect of lighting on behaviour.
Advisory campaigns and leaflets
- A guide to the practical management
of feather pecking and cannibalism in free range laying hens
(505 KB).
- Advisory leaflets published: Heat
Stress in Poultry (2005) (377 KB) and The Welfare of hens in Free
Range Systems (2002) (185 KB).
Copies of the advisory leaflets can be obtained from Defra publications.
- Defra funds ADAS, an agricultural consultancy, to run campaigns to inform farmers about good welfare practices. Details of current campaigns are available.
See also:
- Eggs and Poultry - Information on the 'Food and Drink' pages of the Defra website.
Page last modified: 22 January, 2008