The Welfare of Farmed Animals (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2002

Regulation 2(9)

SCHEDULE SCHEDULES 3A, 3B, 3C AND 3D AS INSERTED BY THIS SCHEDULE

Regulation 5A

“SCHEDULE 3A NON-CAGE SYSTEMS

1.   All newly built or rebuilt non-cage systems of production for keeping laying hens and all such systems of production brought into use for the first time, must comply with the requirements of this Schedule.

2.   On or after 1st January 2007, all non-cage systems of production for keeping laying hens must also comply with the requirements of this Schedule.

3.   All systems must be equipped in such a way that all laying hens have–

(a) either linear feeders providing at least 10 cm per hen or circular feeders providing at least 4 cm per hen;

(b) either continuous drinking troughs providing 2.5 cm per hen or circular drinking troughs providing 1 cm per hen, and in addition, where nipple drinkers or cups are used, there must be at least one nipple drinker or cup for every 10 hens and where drinking points are plumbed in, at least two cups or two nipple drinkers must be within reach of each hen;

(c) at least one nest for every seven hens and if group nests are used, there must be at least 1 m2 of nest space for a maximum of 120 hens;

(d) perches, without sharp edges and providing at least 15 cm per hen; perches must not be mounted above the litter; the horizontal distance between perches must be at least 30 cm and the horizontal distance between the perch and the wall must be at least 20 cm;

(e) at least 250 cm2 of littered area per hen, the litter occupying at least one third of the ground surface.

4.   The floors of installations must be constructed so as to support each of the forward-facing claws of each foot.

5.   In addition to the requirements of paragraphs 3 and 4–

(a) if systems of rearing are used where the laying hens can move freely between different levels–

(i) there must not be more than four levels;

(ii) the headroom between the levels must be at least 45 cm;

(iii) the drinking and feeding facilities must be distributed in such a way as to provide equal access for all hens; and

(iv) the levels must be so arranged as to prevent droppings falling on the levels below; and

(b) if laying hens have access to open runs–

(i) there must be several popholes giving direct access to the outer area, at least 35 cm high and 40 cm wide and extending along the entire length of the building; in any case, a total opening of 2 m must be available per group of 1,000 hens; and

(ii) such runs must be of an area appropriate to the stocking density and to the nature of the ground, in order to prevent any contamination, and equipped with shelter from inclement weather and predators and, if necessary, appropriate drinking troughs.

6.   Subject to paragraph 7 the stocking density must not exceed nine laying hens per square metre of usable area.

7.   Where on 3rd August 1999 the establishment applied a system where the usable area corresponded to the available ground surface, and the establishment is still applying this system at the relevant date, a stocking density of 12 hens per square metre is authorised until 31st December 2011.

8.   In paragraph 7 “the relevant date” is the date on which the Welfare of Farmed Animals (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2002 (other than regulation 2(3)) come into force.

Regulation 5A

SCHEDULE 3B CONVENTIONAL CAGES

1.   On or after 1st January 2003 all conventional (unenriched) cage systems must comply with the following requirements of this paragraph:–

(a) at least 550 cm2 per hen of cage area, measured in a horizontal plane, which may be used without restriction, in particular not including non-waste deflection plates liable to restrict the area available, must be provided for each laying hen;

(b) a feed trough which may be used without restriction must be provided and its length must be at least 10 cm multiplied by the number of hens in the cage;

(c) unless nipple drinkers or drinking cups are provided, each cage must have a continuous drinking channel of the same length as the feed trough mentioned in paragraph (b) and where drinking points are plumbed in, at least two nipple drinkers or two cups must be within reach of each cage;

(d) cages must be at least 40 cm high over at least 65% of the cage area and not less than 35 cm at any point;

(e) floors of cages must be constructed so as to support each of the forward-facing claws of each foot and floor slope must not exceed 14% or 8 degrees when made of rectangular wire mesh and 21.3% or 12 degrees for other types of floor; and

(f) cages must be fitted with suitable claw-shortening devices.

2.   On and after 1st January 2003 no person shall build or bring into service for the first time any cage system referred to in paragraph 1 for the keeping of laying hens.

3.   On and after 1st January 2012 no person shall keep any laying hen in any cage system referred to in paragraph 1.

Regulation 5A

SCHEDULE 3C ENRICHED CAGES

1.   All cage systems (other than those referred to in Schedule 3B) must be enriched to comply with the requirements of this Schedule.

2.   Laying hens must have–

(a) at least 750 cm² of cage area per hen, 600 cm² of which shall be usable; the height of the cage other than that above the usable area shall be at least 20 cm at every point and no cage shall have a total area that is less than 2000 cm² ;

(b) a nest;

(c) litter such that pecking and scratching are possible; and

(d) appropriate perches allowing at least 15 cm per hen.

3.   A feed trough which may be used without restriction must be provided and its length must be at least 12 cm multiplied by the number of hens in the cage.

4.   Each cage must have a drinking system appropriate to the size of the group and where nipple drinkers are provided, at least two nipple drinkers or two cups must be within the reach of each hen.

5.   To facilitate inspection, installation and depopulation of hens there must be a minimum aisle width of 90 cm between tiers of cages and a space of at least 35 cm must be allowed between the floor of the building and the bottom tier of cages.

6.   Cages must be fitted with suitable claw-shortening devices.

Regulation 5A

SCHEDULE 3D CONDITIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL SYSTEMS

1.   All hens must be inspected by the owner or the person responsible for the hens at least once a day.

2.   The sound level must be minimised; constant or sudden noise must be avoided; ventilation fans, feeding machinery or other equipment must be constructed, placed, operated and maintained in such a way that they cause the least possible noise.

3.   All buildings must have–

(a) light levels sufficient to allow all hens to see one another and be seen clearly, to investigate their surroundings visually and to show normal levels of activity and where there is natural light, light apertures must be arranged in such a way that light is distributed evenly within the accommodation; and

(b) after the first days of conditioning and to prevent health and behavioural problems a lighting regime that–

(i) follows a 24-hour rhythm and includes an adequate uninterrupted period of darkness lasting, by way of indication, about one third of the day, so that the hens may rest and to avoid problems such as immunodepression and ocular anomalies; and

(iii) provides a period of twilight of sufficient duration when the light is dimmed so that the hens may settle down without disturbance or injury.

4.   Those parts of buildings, equipment or utensils which are in contact with the hens must be thoroughly cleansed and disinfected regularly and in any case every time depopulation is carried out and before a new batch of hens is brought in. While the cages are occupied, the surfaces and all equipment must be kept satisfactorily clean. Droppings must be removed as often as necessary and dead hens must be removed every day.

5.   Cages must be suitably equipped to prevent hens escaping.

6.   Accommodation comprising two or more tiers of cages must have devices or appropriate measures must be taken to allow inspection of all tiers without difficulty and facilitate the removal of hens.

7.   The design and dimensions of the cage door must be such that an adult hen can be removed without undergoing unnecessary suffering or sustaining injury.

8.   Subject to paragraph 9, no person shall mutilate any laying hen.

9.   In order to prevent feather pecking and cannibalism, until 31st December 2010 beak trimming of birds is permitted in all systems referred to in Schedules 3A, 3B and 3C provided it is carried out–

(a) by persons over 18 years of age;

(b) on chickens that are less than 10 days old and intended for laying; and

(c) in accordance with the Veterinary Surgery (Exemptions) Order 1962(1).”.

(1)

S.I. 1962/2557 to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations.