October 01 2009
THE RSPCA is relaxing its rules on stocking densities for free range hens because soaring demand by consumers means farmers are running out of space.
The maximum number of hens allowed outdoors under the RSPCA Freedom Food assurance scheme will rise from the current 1,000 birds per hectare to 2,000 over the life of the flock.
The change will put the scheme in line with the Lion Code, which from January 2009 changed to permit a stocking density of 2,000 hens/ha.
The EU legal maximum stocking density is 2,500 birds per hectare
Read the full article on the Farmers Guardian website