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That wikipedia link is out of date, the RSPCA specifies 13 birds per square meter for it's free range certification. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/s

That wikipedia link is out of date, the RSPCA specifies 13 birds per square meter for it's free range certification. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/shortcuts/2017/feb/28/what-does-free-range-actually-mean-its-complicated https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/shortcuts/2017/feb/... I think you really should read the actual certification requirements, free range is a joke.

takluyver 6y ago
~In fact, your link is out of date~ (edit - see below). Here's the RSPCA specification from August 2017: https://science.rspca.org.uk/documents/1494935/9042554/RSPCA+welfare+standards+for+laying+hens+2017+%28PDF+4.46MB%29.pdf/fd2c382d-1a4a-29ee-781f-158c34ca6082?t=1557668428002 https://science.rspca.org.uk/documents/1494935/9042554/RSPCA... Point E 5.3 specifies no more than 9 hens per square metre of indoor space. If I'm reading correctly, this applies to both free-range and barn hens. Free range hens also need outdoor space at a density of no more than 2500 birds per hectare, which works out to 4 square metres per bird (although 1 m2 is allowed for birds under 21 weeks old). That's also the EU rule for 'free range' eggs. The RSPCA spec is about 100 pages of details about popholes, lighting, water, and so on. Whether it's effectively enforced, I can't tell, but it's not a joke. Edit: My bad, the Guardian article also says 9 birds per square metre for free range eggs. Free-range chickens raised for meat can be kept at a higher density than laying hens: 13 per square metre indoors and 1 square metre outdoor space. But eggs are the topic here.
rsynnott 6y ago
The RSPCA's opinion on the matter is irrelevant. The UK is bound by EU law. While it will be able to deviate as of January, this is an area that, in practice, it will probably be unwilling to move on in the short to medium; it would be politically damaging (because one argument against Brexit is that it will lead to diminished food standards) for limited returns.

takluyver 6y ago

~In fact, your link is out of date~ (edit - see below). Here's the RSPCA specification from August 2017: https://science.rspca.org.uk/documents/1494935/9042554/RSPCA+welfare+standards+for+laying+hens+2017+%28PDF+4.46MB%29.pdf/fd2c382d-1a4a-29ee-781f-158c34ca6082?t=1557668428002 https://science.rspca.org.uk/documents/1494935/9042554/RSPCA... Point E 5.3 specifies no more than 9 hens per square metre of indoor space. If I'm reading correctly, this applies to both free-range and barn hens. Free range hens also need outdoor space at a density of no more than 2500 birds per hectare, which works out to 4 square metres per bird (although 1 m2 is allowed for birds under 21 weeks old). That's also the EU rule for 'free range' eggs. The RSPCA spec is about 100 pages of details about popholes, lighting, water, and so on. Whether it's effectively enforced, I can't tell, but it's not a joke. Edit: My bad, the Guardian article also says 9 birds per square metre for free range eggs. Free-range chickens raised for meat can be kept at a higher density than laying hens: 13 per square metre indoors and 1 square metre outdoor space. But eggs are the topic here.

rsynnott 6y ago

The RSPCA's opinion on the matter is irrelevant. The UK is bound by EU law. While it will be able to deviate as of January, this is an area that, in practice, it will probably be unwilling to move on in the short to medium; it would be politically damaging (because one argument against Brexit is that it will lead to diminished food standards) for limited returns.