Document type: article published in Poultry World (concerns the United Kingdom)
Author: Tony Mcdougal
Preview: [...] From 1 May, farmers will face a number of new standards as well as revisions to existing ones, although there will be a phased process for some of the more significant changes, with producers being given up to 6 years to implement them.
But, the lack of consultation has caused anger in some farming quarters, with the British Free Range Producers Association saying there was no evidence of any obvious financial return for producers.
Dr Kate Norman, senior scientific officer and poultry specialist at the RSPCA, said the new laying hen standards would be a huge step forward for hen welfare: "Two of the key new standards are the introduction of verandas for barn members and the new requirements for natural daylight for both barn and free-range members, which will come into force in 2030. "We recognise these are big changes for some of our members and it's therefore really important that we give them enough time to make the necessary changes and support and advise them during that process. As such, RSPCA Assured has doubled the notice period usually given to members to implement new standards from 3 to 6 months, and the RSPCA has allowed up to 6 years for the more significant changes." [...]"When looking at the European farms and research, we discovered that including a veranda resulted in a reduction of the daytime stocking density in the main house. This has welfare benefits such as promoting preening, dustbathing and foraging behaviour, and reduces feather damage.
"The new natural daylight standard will require barn and free-range members to provide natural daylight in houses for all hens by the age of 21 weeks, and the natural daylight coverage must correspond to at least 3% of the total floor area of the house. [...]
