West Newbiggin Farm, Sadberge, County Durham

LICENSE NOT FOUND OR INVALID

Phil Twizell - 15 years producing eggs to the RSPCA's higher welfare standards

Phil Twizell has been rearing his egg-laying hens to the RSPCA’s higher welfare standards for 15 years. But Phil’s life in farming goes back even further than that. Born into a farming family, Phil has been working with the land and with animals for as long as he can remember.

From his days as a pig farmer, to when he decided to venture into raising hens in 2009, he has always been committed to maintaining high animal welfare standards.

“As a livestock farmer, you're responsible for the welfare of your animals. They are sentient beings. It's just a natural thing to do, to be caring for your animals. If you get the welfare right, you get better production and you enjoy your job more. RSPCA Assured gives customers the confidence that the farmers are adhering to standards, it gives them the confidence that the animals’ welfare is as high as it can be.”

While welfare has always been the driving power behind Phil’s dedication to farms, he also strives to go further and embrace new environmental technologies and processes.

“We wanted to be sustainable from the minute we went into egg production and I'm proud of what we've achieved.”

LICENSE NOT FOUND OR INVALID

To be more ‘green’, Phil’s farm uses solar power on the farm. They have also planted more than 4,000 trees, together with the hedgerows, these form a great opportunity for the birds to perch and take shelter. And by forming the land into paddocks, he is able to graze the land as well so it can have a break from the flock every so often.

“Hens are descended from a jungle animal so they are attracted to shady environments, like under trees or in hedgerows. Hens also need to exhibit their natural behaviours, like scratching, and dust bathing, and we make sure that they have the opportunities to do that.”

Phil believes the UK is leading the way in free-range egg production but is concerned that around 20% of the UK’s hens are still kept in cages, that’s about eight million hens.

LICENSE NOT FOUND OR INVALID

“I think, as consumers, we should be prepared to pay a little premium for the benefit of the hens' welfare. It's only 20 pence a dozen or so extra to pay for a free-range egg rather than a caged egg. Maybe you can still produce plenty of eggs in a caged environment, but it’s not all about the price. There is an element of humanity about it; being kinder to the animal.”

Phil and his team at The Good Egg Fellas have won four national awards for egg production, including egg producer of the year for the Free Range Egg Producers Association, and is one of RSPCA Assured’s longest-standing members.

“The RSPCA Assured label gives consumers confidence that eggs are produced to the highest welfare standards we can achieve, and that we’re adhering to those standards. When I see my hens happy, healthy and laying great quality eggs, I also couldn’t be happier.”