egg production
Laying cage system
Laying cages are the most common method of commercial egg production in the UK - representing around 50% of eggs produced in 2011.
Across the EU conventional 'battery' cages have been banned. In the UK, they have been replaced by larger, ‘enriched’ colony cages. However, producers in some other EU countries did not meet the deadline to move out of battery cages.
The new colony cages provide 750cm² per bird along with a nest box for the birds to lay their eggs in, perching space for the birds to sleep on and a scratching area to perform natural behaviours. In the UK, most of the new enriched colony cages are designed to contain between 40 and 80 birds, enabling better use of the space and giving them more room to move around the colony.
Lion egg producers are finding that the birds make good use of the enhancements of the new system, with almost all of the hens choosing to sleep on the perches and 95% of eggs laid in the nest box area. Laying eggs in a nesting area has been shown to be one of the most important behavioural needs for laying hens. When the eggs are laid they roll forward onto a conveyor belt out of reach of the birds to await collection.
Food is supplied in troughs fitted to the cages and an automatic water supply is provided. The units are kept at an even temperature and are well ventilated. Lighting provides an optimum day length throughout the year.
All British Lion cage eggs come from enriched colony cages.
Lion Quality eggs produced by hens in cages do not use "farm" descriptions, farmyard / countryside scenes nor pictures of hens roaming freely on the egg box.
For more information on the battery cage ban visit legaleggs.com
Download factsheet about caged egg production
Barn system
Around 5% of eggs sold in the UK in 2010 were produced in the barn system.
In the barn system hens are able to move freely around the house. The EU Welfare of Laying Hens Directive stipulates a maximum stocking density of 9 hens per square metre of useable floor space. Perches for the hens must be installed to allow 15 centimetres of perch per hen. Litter must account for one third of the ground surface. This is used for scratching and dust bathing.
One nest box per five hens or communal nests, at the rate of 120 birds/m² of floor area, is provided. Linear feeders provide at least 10 cm per hen, or circular feeders provide at least 4 cm per hen. There is also plenty of drinking space per hen. Water and feeding troughs are raised so that the specially prepared food is not scattered. Electric lighting is provided to give an optimum day length throughout the year. At the end of the laying period the house is completely cleaned and disinfected.
The majority of barn houses in the UK are a single level part-litter, part-slatted floor. In this system, the EU Welfare of Laying Hens Directive allows a maximum stocking density of 9 hens per square metre from 1st January 2012.
Additional requirements of the Lion code
The Lion Quality Code of Practice stipulates the following additional standards for Lion Quality barn hens: maximum flock size of 32,000 birds divided into colonies of 4,000 where flock size is over 6,000 birds in total.
Download factsheet about barn egg production
Free range and organic systems
The free range and organic systems accounted for around 45% of eggs produced in the UK in 2010.
Free range
The EU egg marketing legislation stipulates that for eggs to be termed 'free range', hens must have continuous daytime access to runs which are mainly covered with vegetation and a maximum stocking density of 2,500 birds per hectare. The hen house conditions for free range hens must comply with the regulations for birds kept in barn systems, with a maximum stocking density of 9 hens per square metre of useable area.
Hens must be provided with next boxes. Adequate perches, providing 15 centimetres of perch per hen, must also be provided. Litter must be provided, accounting for one-third of the ground surface - this is used for scratching and dust bathing.
Additional requirements of the Lion code
The Lion Quality Code of Practice stipulates the same additional standards for Lion Quality free range hens as for Lion Quality barn hens plus provision of outdoor shading in absence of a veranda and one pop-hole per 600 birds open for 8 hours daily to allow access to the outside; maximum flock size of 16,000 birds divided into colonies of 4,000 where flock size is over 6,000 birds in total; a maximum stocking density of 2,000 birds per hectare. The width and height of the popholes is greater than required by EU legislation.
Download factsheet about free range egg production
Organic
Hens producing organic eggs are always free range. In addition, hens must be fed an organically produced diet and ranged on organic land.
The hen house conditions for organic hens are set by the EU Organic Regulations and stipulate a maximum stocking density of 6 hens per square metre of useable area and a maximum flock size of 3,000 birds. Hens must be provided with nest boxes. Adequate perches, providing 18 centimetres of perch per hen, must also be provided. Litter must be provided, accounting for one-third of the ground surface - this is used for scratching and dust bathing.
Additional requirements of the Lion code
The higher standards governing flocks producing British Lion organic eggs include the provision of outdoor shading, additional height and width of popholes, open for 8 hours daily to allow access to the outside; and a maximum range area stocking density of up to 2,000 birds per hectare.