Office of Public Sector Information

Regulation 5

SCHEDULE 2 Additional conditions that apply to the keeping of laying hens in non-cage systems

1.  All non-cage systems of production for keeping laying hens must comply with the requirements of this Schedule.

2.  All systems must be equipped in such a way that all laying hens have—

(a) linear feeders providing at least 10cm per bird or circular feeders providing at least 4cm per bird;

(b) continuous drinking troughs providing at least 2.5 cm per hen or circular drinking troughs providing at least 1 cm per hen;

(c) at least one nest for every seven hens and, if group nests are used, there must be at least 1 m² of nest space for a maximum of 120 hens;

(d) perches without sharp edges and providing at least 15 cm per hen, which must not be mounted above the litter, and the horizontal distance between perches must be at least 30 cm and the horizontal distance between the perch and the wall must be at least 20 cm; and

(e) at least 250 cm² of littered area per hen, the litter occupying at least one third of the ground surface.

3.  Where a system is equipped with nipple drinkers or cups, there must be at least one nipple drinker or cup for every 10 hens.

4.  Where a system has drinking points plumbed in, at least two cups or two nipple drinkers must be within reach of each hen.

5.  The floors of installations must be constructed so as to support each of the forward-facing claws of each bird’s foot.

6.  If systems are used where the laying hens can move freely between different levels—

(a) there must be no more than four levels;

(b) the headroom between the levels must be at least 45 cm;

(c) the drinking and feeding facilities must be distributed in such a way as to provide equal access for all hens; and

(d) the levels must be so arranged as to prevent droppings falling on the levels below.

7.  If laying hens have access to open runs —

(a) there must be several popholes giving direct access to the outer area, at least 35 cm high and 40 cm wide, and extending along the entire length of the building; and in any case, a total opening of 2 m must be available per group of 1,000 hens; and

(b) the open runs must be—

(i) of an area appropriate to the stocking density and to the nature of the ground, in order to prevent any contamination; and

(ii) equipped with shelter from adverse weather conditions and predators and, if necessary, drinking troughs.

8.  Subject to paragraph (9), the stocking density must not exceed nine laying hens per m² of usable area.

9.  Where on 3 August 1999 the establishment applied a system where the usable area corresponded to the available ground surface, and the establishment was still applying this system on 25 June 2002, a stocking density of not more than 12 hens per m² is authorised until 31 December 2011.

Regulation 5

SCHEDULE 3 Additional conditions that apply to the keeping of laying hens in conventional cages

1.  All conventional (unenriched) cage systems must comply with the requirements of this Schedule.

2.  Cage systems must have at least 550 cm² per hen of cage area, measured in a horizontal plane, which may be used without restriction, in particular not including non-waste deflection plates liable to restrict the area available unless they are placed so as not to restrict the area available for the hens to use.

3.  A feed trough must be provided which may be used without restriction, the length of which must be at least 10 cm multiplied by the number of hens in the cage.

4.—(1) Unless nipple drinkers or drinking cups are provided, each cage must have a continuous drinking channel of the same length as the feed trough mentioned in paragraph 3.

(2) Where drinking points are plumbed in, at least two nipple drinkers or two cups must be within reach from each cage.

5.  Cages must be at least 40 cm high over at least 65% of the cage area and not less than 35 cm at any point, the area being obtained by multiplying 550 cm² by the number of birds kept in the cage.

6.—(1) Floors of cages must be constructed so as to support each of the forward-facing claws of each foot of each bird.

(2) The floor slope must not exceed 14% or 8 degrees when made of rectangular wire mesh and must not exceed 21.3% or 12 degrees for other types of floor.

7.  Cages must be fitted with suitable claw-shortening devices.

8.  No person may build or bring into service for the first time any cage system referred to in this Schedule for the keeping of laying hens.

9.  On and after 1 January 2012, no person may keep laying hens in any cage system referred to in this Schedule.

Regulation 5

SCHEDULE 4 Additional conditions that apply to the keeping of laying hens in enriched cages

1.  All laying hens not kept in a non cage system referred to in Schedule 2 or a cage system referred to in Schedule 3 must be kept in an enriched cage system which complies with the requirements of this Schedule.

2.  Laying hens must have—

(a) at least 750 cm² of cage area per hen, 600 cm² of which must be usable; the height of the cage other than that above the usable area must be at least 20 cm at every point and the minimum total area for any cage must be 2000 cm²;

(b) access to a nest;

(c) litter such that pecking and scratching are possible; and

(d) appropriate perches allowing at least 15 cm per hen.

3.  A feed trough which can be used without restriction must be provided, the length of which must be at least 12 cm multiplied by the number of hens in the cage.

4.  Each cage must have a drinking system appropriate to the size of the group; where nipple drinkers are provided, at least two nipple drinkers or two cups must be within reach of each hen.

5.  To facilitate inspection, installation and depopulation of hens there must be a minimum aisle width of 90 cm between tiers of cages and a space of at least 35 cm must be allowed between the floor of the building and the bottom tier of cages.

6.  Cages must be fitted with suitable claw-shortening devices.