Meet poultry welfare requirements

All poultry keepers in the UK have a legal duty to meet their birds' welfare needs. This applies whether you keep a small backyard flock or run a large commercial operation. The legal framework is set out in the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007 (with equivalent regulations in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland).

Core welfare requirements apply to chickens, including laying hens (kept for egg production) and broilers (chickens kept for meat production). Meeting these standards is not optional - failure to comply can result in prosecution, fines, and a ban on keeping animals.

Since 1 October 2024, every poultry and captive bird keeper in England must register with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), however small the flock, even a single bird. You need a County Parish Holding (CPH) number from the Rural Payments Agency first, and you must confirm your registration details every year.

Larger flocks have extra duties. If you keep 350 or more laying hens (250 or more breeding birds) or 500 or more broilers, you must test under the salmonella national control programme. Broiler keepers stocking above 33 kg/m2 must keep enhanced records, and premises that can hold 40,000 or more birds may need an environmental permit.

The five welfare needs

Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, you must ensure your poultry have:

1. a suitable environment, with appropriate housing, shelter from the weather, enough space and clean living conditions
2. a suitable diet, with fresh water and balanced feed for their age and production stage
3. the ability to behave normally, with enough space, proper facilities and the company of their own kind
4. protection from pain, suffering, injury and disease, by preventing health problems and treating them quickly
5. housing with, or apart from, other animals as appropriate, with suitable stocking densities and compatible groupings

These are legal obligations, not suggestions. Inspectors can assess whether these needs are being met and take enforcement action if they are not.

Stocking density requirements

Stocking density is the weight of birds per square metre of usable floor area. Maximum densities vary by production system:

Laying hens (all systems)

• Barn and free-range systems allow a maximum of 9 birds per m2 of usable area.
• Multi-tier systems (aviaries) allow a maximum of 9 birds per m2 of usable area at each level, with no more than 4 tiers.

'Usable area' means an area at least 30 cm wide with at least 45 cm headroom and a floor slope not exceeding 14%, covered with litter or perforated/slatted flooring, excluding nest boxes.

Broilers (meat chickens)

Broiler stocking density is measured in kilograms per square metre (kg/m2), not number of birds:

• The standard maximum is 33 kg/m2, roughly 15 to 17 birds depending on target slaughter weight.
• Up to 39 kg/m2 is permitted if you meet the extra requirements below.

Requirements for stocking above 33 kg/m2

To stock broilers above 33 kg/m2 (up to 39 kg/m2), you must:

• Hold a recognised training certificate in poultry welfare
• Maintain detailed documentation of house specifications, ventilation systems, and environmental controls
• Provide cumulative daily mortality data to APHA
• Demonstrate that welfare indicators (foot pad dermatitis, hock burn, mortality) remain within acceptable limits
• Meet enhanced environmental standards for ventilation, lighting, and litter quality

Stocking density alone does not ensure welfare. The relationship between stockmanship, litter management, environmental control, and stocking density is critical.

Lighting requirements

Poultry must not be kept in permanent darkness. Lighting requirements ensure birds can see to feed, drink, and behave normally:

All poultry

• Light must be at least 20 lux during lighting periods, measured at bird eye level.
• Birds must have an adequate period of darkness in each 24-hour period - for broilers the legal minimum is 6 hours of darkness in total, including one continuous period of at least 4 hours; around 8 hours of darkness is recommended good practice for laying hens
• Lighting must cover at least 80% of the usable area

Broilers

The lighting programme must follow a 24-hour rhythm with specific requirements:

• Within 7 days of placement and until 3 days before slaughter, lighting must follow a 24-hour cycle
• Minimum 6 hours darkness per 24 hours, including at least one uninterrupted period of 4 hours (excluding dimming periods)
• Twilight (dimming) periods of at least 30 minutes during lighting transitions to allow birds to settle

Laying hens

• Keep at least 10 lux in laying areas, except nest boxes, which should be below 1 lux.
• Natural light through windows or openings preferred where possible
• Avoid sudden changes in lighting - use gradual dimming to prevent panic and smothering

Birds naturally supplement daylight, so if housing has adequate daylight, artificial lighting is only needed to extend day length during winter if required for production purposes.

Litter and environmental enrichment

Poultry must have access to friable (loose, dry) litter that allows natural behaviours like scratching, pecking, and dust bathing:

Litter requirements

• All poultry in buildings must be kept on, or have access to, well-maintained litter.
• Laying hens in non-cage systems need at least 250 cm2 of littered area each, with litter covering at least one-third of the floor.
• Broilers must have permanent access to friable, dry litter.
• Use wood shavings, straw or other absorbent material that allows dust bathing and foraging.

Litter quality

Litter must be maintained to prevent:

• wet litter, which contributes to foot pad dermatitis and hock burn, so check drinkers for leaks and ventilation for condensation
• capping, a hard crust over the litter that stops dust bathing, so break up crusts regularly
• ammonia build-up: keep ammonia below 20 ppm (ideally below 10 ppm) at bird head height, which is a legal limit in broiler houses stocked above 33 kg/m2

Environmental enrichment

Enrichment reduces harmful behaviours like feather pecking and improves bird welfare. Consider providing:

• straw bales as raised resting areas and barriers
• perches and platforms so birds can roost and escape aggression
• pecking objects such as cabbages, hanging CDs, string or commercial pecking blocks
• scattered grain to encourage foraging

Enrichment significantly increases time birds spend standing, walking, and running while reducing aggression. The Code of Practice recommends enrichment for all poultry flocks.

Ventilation and air quality

Adequate ventilation is essential for bird health and welfare. Poor air quality causes respiratory disease, eye irritation, and poor performance:

Air quality standards

• In broiler houses stocked above 33 kg/m2, ammonia must not exceed 20 ppm (parts per million) at bird head height. Aim for below 10 ppm in all systems.
• In the same houses, carbon dioxide must not exceed 3,000 ppm.
• Keep dust down through litter management and ventilation.
• Keep the temperature right for the birds' age and type: chicks need 30 to 33°C and adult birds 18 to 21°C depending on conditions.

Ventilation requirements (broilers stocking above 33 kg/m2)

Keepers stocking above 33 kg/m2 must have:

• A detailed ventilation plan specifying target air quality parameters (airflow, air speed, temperature)
• Emergency ventilation backup systems with alarm mechanisms
• Continuous monitoring systems for temperature and humidity
• Records of daily environmental measurements

Signs of poor air quality

Monitor birds for signs of respiratory distress:

• Eye irritation (watering, swelling, rubbing)
• Snicking, gasping, or abnormal breathing sounds
• Birds clustering away from certain areas of the house
• Increased mortality or culling for respiratory conditions

Feeding and water requirements

All poultry must have continuous access to wholesome feed and fresh, clean water appropriate for their age and needs:

Feed requirements

• Provide enough feed space that all birds can eat without competing.
• Feed must meet the nutritional needs of the birds' age and production stage.
• Feed must not be withdrawn for more than 12 hours before slaughter (birds must have access to feed until catching begins)

Water requirements

• Fresh water must be available at all times.
• Laying hens need at least 1 nipple drinker or cup per 10 hens, and where they are plumbed in, at least 2 within reach of each hen.
• Check and clean drinkers regularly so the water stays clean and palatable.

Feed trough space (laying hens)

• At least 10 cm per bird at linear feeders
• At least 4 cm per bird at circular feeders

Inadequate feed or water access leads to competition, aggression, and welfare problems. Monitor consumption daily and investigate sudden changes.

Beak trimming rules and restrictions

Beak trimming (reducing the length and sharpness of the beak) is permitted only as a last resort to prevent feather pecking and cannibalism. Under the Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (England) Regulations 2007, strict conditions apply:

Permitted methods

• Infrared treatment is carried out at the hatchery on day-old chicks. The beak tip softens and falls off within days without acute pain or bleeding.
• Hot blade trimming is no longer permitted as a routine method in England; infrared treatment is the only routine method allowed.

Restrictions

• Beak trimming may only be done on chicks up to 10 days old.
• No more than one-third of the upper beak may be removed.
• It must be done by a trained, competent operator.
• It should only be used when other ways of controlling injurious pecking have failed or are impractical.

Alternatives to beak trimming

Before resorting to beak trimming, consider:

• Reducing stocking density
• Improving environmental enrichment (pecking objects, perches, litter quality)
• Adjusting lighting intensity and programmes
• Addressing nutritional deficiencies (sodium, methionine, fibre)
• Selecting genetic strains less prone to feather pecking
• Managing stress factors (disease, temperature extremes, handling)

Some farm assurance schemes and retailers require non-beak-trimmed flocks. If supplying these markets, focus on management practices that prevent injurious pecking without physical intervention.

Laying hen specific requirements

In addition to general poultry welfare requirements, laying hens in non-cage systems must have access to specific facilities:

Nest boxes

• At least 1 individual nest for every 7 hens, or
• At least 1 m2 of group (colony) nest per 120 hens
• Nests that are enclosed and dark (below 1 lux), to encourage laying and discourage floor eggs

Perches

• At least 15 cm of perch per hen
• No sharp edges that could injure birds
• Perches not mounted above the litter, at least 30 cm apart horizontally and at least 20 cm from the wall

Pop holes (for free-range and organic systems)

• Pop holes must be big enough for birds to pass through easily, with a combined length of at least 4 m per 100 m2 of building floor area.
• Spread them along the full length of the building to prevent crowding.
• They must give genuine access to the range, so birds can reach outdoor areas freely during daylight.

Flooring

• Floors must support each of the forward-facing claws of each bird's foot
• Wire or perforated flooring must have openings appropriate for bird size to prevent foot injuries

Broiler (meat chicken) specific requirements

The Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 implemented the EU Broiler Welfare Directive. These requirements apply to conventionally reared meat chickens in flocks of 500 or more birds:

Daily inspections

• Inspect all birds at least twice daily
• Remove dead birds at each inspection
• Cull or isolate birds showing signs of illness or injury
• Record mortality at each inspection

Drinker and feeder access

• At least 1 nipple drinker per 10 birds
• At least 1 bell drinker per 100 birds, or 2.5 cm of edge space per bird
• Enough feed space for all birds to feed together without excessive competition

Cumulative daily mortality reporting (above 33 kg/m2)

For flocks stocked above 33 kg/m2, keepers must record and report:

• Cumulative daily mortality rate throughout the flock cycle
• Welfare indicator data from slaughterhouses (foot pad dermatitis, hock burn)
• Post-mortem rejection rates

High mortality or poor welfare indicators trigger mandatory stocking density reductions for subsequent flocks.

Broiler keeper training

Anyone responsible for broilers must hold a certificate of competence recognised by the Secretary of State, covering:

• Handling and catching techniques
• Feeding and watering management
• Recognition of common diseases and welfare problems
• Emergency procedures

Free-range and organic additional requirements

Free-range and organic poultry systems must meet additional standards beyond the basic welfare regulations:

Free-range laying hens

• Continuous daytime access to open-air runs for at least 8 hours a day
• No more than 2,500 birds per hectare (1 bird per 4 m2) outdoors
• Runs mainly covered with vegetation
• Pop holes that give genuine, usable access along the length of the building

Free-range broilers

• Access to an open-air range from 6 weeks old
• A minimum slaughter age of 56 days (8 weeks)
• At least 1 m2 of outdoor area per bird
• At least 4 m of pop hole opening per 100 m2 of floor area

Organic systems (additional to free-range)

• Lower indoor stocking densities, typically 6 hens per m2 for layers or 21 kg/m2 for broilers
• No more than 2,500 hens per hectare outdoors for organic layers
• Slower-growing strains for organic broilers
• 100% certified organic feed
• Limited antibiotic use with extended withdrawal periods
• Certification by an approved organic control body, such as the Soil Association or Organic Farmers & Growers

Converting to organic typically takes 6 weeks for poultry, or birds can be organic from day-old if you buy organic chicks.

Bird flu and temporary housing

During Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) housing orders, free-range birds may be housed temporarily without losing free-range status. For eggs, the previous 16-week time limit was removed in 2025 (by the Marketing of Eggs (Amendment) Regulations 2025), so eggs keep free-range status for the whole of any mandatory housing period. The equivalent 12-week limit for free-range poultry meat was removed by amendment regulations made in 2025.

Biosecurity and Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ)

All poultry keepers must maintain biosecurity to prevent disease introduction and spread. During high-risk periods (typically autumn/winter), additional mandatory measures apply under Avian Influenza Prevention Zones:

Year-round biosecurity requirements

• Use dedicated footwear in poultry areas, or foot dips with Defra-approved disinfectant.
• Wear clean protective clothing when you enter bird areas.
• Store feed under cover and cover water sources so wild birds cannot reach them.
• Keep visitors to a minimum and give essential visitors protective clothing and footwear.
• Where practical, net or cover outdoor areas to keep wild birds out.
• Clean and disinfect housing and equipment regularly.

AIPZ mandatory measures

When an AIPZ is declared, all bird keepers must:

• Use foot dips with Defra-approved disinfectant at all entry and exit points
• Store feed, water, and bedding under cover to prevent wild bird contamination
• Cleanse and disinfect vehicles and equipment entering and leaving the premises
• Minimise movement of people, vehicles, and equipment to and from bird areas
• Keep ducks and geese separate from other poultry species

Housing orders

In high-risk situations, Defra may issue housing orders requiring all poultry (including free-range) to be housed. Failure to comply is a criminal offence. Check GOV.UK for current AIPZ status and housing requirements in your area.

Premises with over 500 birds

Additional requirements include:

• Clean and disinfect housing and equipment at the end of each production cycle
• Enhanced record-keeping of visitors, vehicle movements, and biosecurity measures

Record-keeping and inspections

Comprehensive records demonstrate compliance and support disease traceability:

Records you must keep

• The number of birds found dead at each daily inspection
• The number and date of birds placed, their breed or strain, and their source
• Dates and numbers of birds arriving and leaving, with their sources and destinations
• All treatments given, with dates and withdrawal periods
• Feed type, supplier and batch numbers, for traceability

Additional records for broilers (500+ birds)

• Daily mortality and cumulative mortality rate
• Stocking density calculations for each flock
• Environmental monitoring data (temperature, humidity, ammonia where applicable)
• Slaughterhouse welfare indicator reports (foot pad dermatitis, hock burn scores)

Retention periods

• Keep general records for at least 3 years.
• Keep medication records for at least 5 years.

Inspections

Your premises may be inspected by:

• the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), for disease control and welfare compliance
• local authority Animal Health Officers, for welfare enforcement
• your farm assurance scheme, such as Red Tractor or RSPCA Assured, if you are a member

Inspectors can arrive unannounced. Ensure records are up to date and accessible, and that all staff understand welfare requirements.

Penalties for non-compliance

Failure to meet poultry welfare requirements can result in serious consequences:

Animal Welfare Act 2006 offences

Causing unnecessary suffering to an animal or failing to meet an animal's welfare needs can result in:

• an unlimited fine
• up to 5 years' imprisonment (under the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021)
• a ban on keeping animals for a set period or for life
• a deprivation order removing animals from your care

Welfare of Farmed Animals Regulations offences

Breach of specific regulations (stocking densities, lighting requirements, etc.) can result in:

• an improvement notice requiring you to put breaches right within a set time
• prosecution, with a fine of up to £20,000, up to 6 months' imprisonment, or both
• a mandatory stocking density reduction for later flocks if welfare indicators are poor

Other consequences

• You can lose farm assurance certification from Red Tractor, RSPCA Assured or organic schemes.
• You can lose free-range or organic status, and with it premium prices.
• Prosecutions are public, and supermarkets and processors may refuse to trade with convicted suppliers.
• Welfare breaches can affect agricultural subsidy payments.

Farm assurance schemes such as Red Tractor, RSPCA Assured and the Soil Association usually set standards above the legal minimum, for example on stocking density, lighting, welfare outcome monitoring and enrichment. Breaking them can mean suspension and loss of market access.

Prevention is always better than enforcement. Invest in training, maintain good records, and address welfare issues promptly.