Amends to RSPCA Welfare Standards for Laying Hens
Our members are fundamental in helping us improve hen welfare. Therefore, ensuring we listen to them and provide proper support to help them meet the new standards is our top priority. To do this effectively, we have to be flexible. As such, we have made the decision to extend the current pause on the new RSPCA laying hen welfare standards until 1 February 2025*.
We will be using this additional time to offer face to face meetings to those who have concerns about implementing the new standards. The aim of these in person meetings will be to fully understand any challenges producers are facing and provide tailored support in finding practical solutions to help them achieve the new standards. Our specialist staff will be available to attend producer group regional meetings to offer their support.
Details about the group meetings will be made available in due course, however, members who want to find out more about attending a laying hen standards support session should email contact Membership Services for more information.
In addition to holding meetings with our members, this extended pause will allow us to:
- Continue to improve our engagement throughout the entire standards development process.
- Develop UK-based case studies to demonstrate how natural daylight can be practically applied in a variety of laying hen farming systems, such as multi-tiered, flat deck, free range and barn.
*This means members can continue to use the current version of the standards, published in 2017, until 1 February 2025. The RSPCA welfare standards do not require natural daylight to be implemented until 1 January 2031, giving producers over six years to meet the standards in full.
The pause follows our announcement earlier this year that we would be making amendments to the scope and timing of the standards, these amendments are listed below:
Veranda Requirements
Natural Daylight Requirement
The timeline for natural daylight has been extended by one year which now gives RSPCA Assured laying hen members seven years to implement the new standards in their entirety and allows increased engagement with industry and members.
New, potential or existing RSPCA Assured members who are in need of support or advice about meeting the new laying hen standards should contact us.
Useful Resources
Members may find the below RSPCA commissioned report from ADAS useful in understanding the benefits of verandas and natural daylight for laying hens. However, please be aware when reading this report that the costing statement is from 2016 and will be outdated now. The report also provides lots of information about veranda design, but again as this is an old report, you must ensure when planning a new veranda that it meets the RSPCA welfare standards for verandas.
Please find below some useful documents which help to explain the key welfare benefits of providing verandas and natural daylight for laying hens.