Laying hens - Science
RSPCA welfare standards for laying hens
Our detailed RSPCA welfare standards have been developed to represent good practice in the care and welfare of commercially-farmed laying hens at all stages of their lives.
We've worked in collaboration with the Soil Association, research sector and industry to produce the laying hen feather cover advice guide, providing guidance on improving feather cover in laying hens.
Please also see additional documents for feather loss monitoring and record sheet and examples of perch placement
RSPCA laying hen standards technical advisory group
Members of the advisory group are selected on the basis of the specific expertise they bring to the group in different areas of laying hen care. Members include:
- Kate Norman (RSPCA poultry specialist)
- Moira Harris (Chair)
- Andrew Joret (Noble Foods / BEIC Chair)
- Roger Gill (Lakes Free Range)
- Mike Tyers (BEIC)
- Charlotte Fursdon (Anglia Free-range eggs)
- Harold Richmond (Skea Eggs)
- Sarah Lambton (University of Bristol)
- Suzy Brown (Avivets)
- A technical/field operations representative of RSPCA Assured
Find out more about the consultation process for the development of the RSPCA welfare standards for farm animals.