What are we doing?

Here's some examples of the work we are doing to give as many hens as possible a really good quality of life.

Pushing for stronger laws to protect laying hens
We take every opportunity to stress the need to ban cages, and the advantages of keeping hens in well-managed higher welfare systems such as barn or free-range. For example, in 2002, we submitted a detailed consultation response to the government department Defra, highlighting the urgent need to ban all types of cages – conventional (which will be banned from 2012) as well so-called ‘enriched’ cages (which will still be allowed).

In 2005, we produced a report titled The Case Against Cages (PDF 0.51MB). This report explains the different egg production systems and the need for all cages to be banned and replaced with suitable alternative systems. It also contains economic research we commissioned on the financial impact on producers, showing that the costs of some higher welfare systems are often not much different to those of enriched cages.

Further research we commissioned (Coming of Age RSPCA report (PDF 0.80MB)), showed that most UK caged egg producers will need to invest in new facilities by 2012. In the report we therefore urge producers to invest in free-range or barn systems, rather than converting to enriched cages.

Developing RSPCA welfare standards
We have developed detailed RSPCA welfare standards for laying hens, which contain hundreds of requirements to ensure that higher standards of animal welfare are met at all stages of the hens’ lives - including how they are hatched, kept, transported and humanely slaughtered/killed. The standards do not allow hens to be kept in cages, and are much more detailed and strict than minimum legal requirements.

The vast majority of free-range and barn eggs in the UK come from hens inspected to these standards through the Freedom Food scheme.

Using scientific research to improve laying hen welfare
As part of improving laying hen welfare, and to help develop the RSPCA welfare standards, we are sometimes able to commission scientific research. Further information about our current laying hen welfare projects is available in our Science Group area.

Scientific evidence is very important when we are trying to find practical solutions to laying hen welfare problems, which are sometimes very complex. One example is the issue of feather pecking. This can cause very poor welfare for injured birds, and even death, and producers often try to reduce the risk of this with beak trimming, or ’tipping’ (in all types of production systems). We’re working hard to reach a point where producers no longer need to beak trim. In the meantime, we’re looking at the different methods of beak trimming and how bird welfare can be best protected during this procedure. Our scientific staff are also members of a government-led working group to help to find the best ways of minimising the risk of feather pecking.

Campaigning work
For many years we have campaigned to have eggs from caged hens clearly labelled to allow consumers to make an informed choice about which production system they support when they buy eggs.

Since 2004 the law has required all eggs and egg boxes to be labelled according to the method of production – either eggs from caged hens, barn, free-range or organic. We urge retailers to make sure that their labelling is clear, and that all products containing eggs as ingredients are also labelled as eggs from free-range, barn, organic or caged hens.

If you’re concerned about laying hen welfare, you may like to know more about how you can help.