Welfare of Laying Hens Directive Will Lead to Millions of Ex-Battery Hens Needing Rehoming

Whilst the regulations to improve the conditions in which battery chickens are kept were approved and voted on by MEPs over ten years ago, the directive is only coming into force in January 2012.

From January onwards farmers who keep over 350 chickens will have to ensure these chickens are kept in ‘improved’ cages. The chickens must be given access to litter or gravel on the floor of the cage in order to be able to scrat around and peck as they would naturally. The cages will also need to have a minimum of around 800 sq cm of floor spare (nearly double what was the required space before this new directive) and the hens must be able to nest and perch.

Unfortunately the cost of implementing these welfare changes has meant that many UK egg and chicken producers have opted not to carry on in poultry farming and thus there is now a glut of ex-battery chickens needing new homes or they will face certain slaughter. There are a number of rescue efforts and organisations across the UK currently looking for new homes for some of these battery chickens.