RSPCA Assured standards for hens |
|
UK legal minimum for hens |
Cages are never permitted, all hens must have access to litter and freedom of movement in loose-housed systems. |
Cages |
Enriched cages are permitted. These are similar to conventional battery cages but also provide limited nesting, perching and scratching facilities. |
15cm of raised perching must be available per bird (multi-tier systems) and 8cm per bird in flat-deck systems, to allow birds to rest without disturbance. | ![]() Perches |
15cm of perch space is required per bird. In England & Wales, perches can be incorporated into the flooring and do not need to be raised. |
2 enrichment items must be provided for every 1000 birds. Some must be destructible to enable foraging-related behaviours, for example, pecking blocks or alfalfa bales. | ![]() Enrichment |
There are no requirements for enrichment. |
All hens must be inspected at least 3 times a day. |
Inspections |
All hens must be inspected at least once a day. |
A stocking density of 9 birds per m³ of usable area is required to enable freedom of movement (equivalent to 1110cm³ space allowance per hen). |
Space to move |
750cm³ space allowance per hen is required in enriched cages. |
Hens must be caught and carried by both legs by an approved catching team. |
Bird handling |
Personnel handling the animals must be trained or competent. |
All hens must be sent to an RSPCA Assured approved abattoir with a journey time of no more than 8 hours. Live shackling is not permitted. |
Transport & slaughter |
Journey time can be up to 12 hours. Live shackling (where hens are hung upside down by their legs) for electric stunning is permitted. |
Accurate as of September 2021