Percheries

In percheries, the hens are kept in large windowless sheds with several rows of perches at different heights. The floor is likely to be at least partly covered with litter (wood shavings or straw) and nest boxes are provided. Percheries are often old battery sheds that have been converted. Eggs from percheries are called barn eggs. EC regulations means hens can be stocked at 25 hens per square metre floor space with 15 cm perching space/bird. This can create stress from overcrowding leading to aggressive behaviour, feather-pecking and cannibalism. Debeaking is common in perchery systems. Another problem of overcrowding is birds crashing into one another whilst attempting to land on perches. 25% of perchery hens may have broken bones before transport to slaughter due to flight and landing accidents. This is a much higher level than either battery or so-called free-range hens. Many birds are unable to lay eggs in nest boxes and so lay them on the floor where they may be eaten by other birds or become contaminated due to contact with the birds' faeces. Disease is also a major problem. Coccidiosis, foot infections and other diseases can be widespread in large flocks.

 Free Range

The UK free-range flock numbers around 3 million birds, 10% of the national egg-laying flock. Commercial free-range systems involve massive flocks, often around 15,000 birds, which are housed in huge sheds. Legally, the birds must have continuous access to open-air runs which means the sheds have a number of pop-holes. Stocking densities must not be more than 1,000 birds per hectare of ground to which the birds have access. This is about 200 times more space than battery hens have. However, inadequate numbers of pop-holes in large sheds may mean that many birds never leave the sheds. Pop-holes may also be protected by more aggressive birds discouraging other hens from using them freely. Overcrowding inside the sheds can lead to similar welfare problems as percheries with aggression, feather-pecking and cannibalism all occurring. Debeaking is more common in free-range hens than battery hens! Disease is also a problem, especially where high stocking densities result in the ground outside becoming heavily fouled. Traditional free-range involves smaller flocks which are housed in moveable houses. Many small producers were put out of business by Government legislation requiring flocks to be tested for salmonella, making small flocks uneconomic.

 So finally, why is our Garden NOT Free Range?

Well, as you have read, the definition of Free Range includes specifically that "stocking densities must not be more than 1000 birds per hectare of ground to which the birds have access". Essentially this means that we should allow 10 square metres of pasture for every bird we keep, and in spite of what you can see from the picture above, our chickens are NOT Legally Free Range! Whether officially Free Range chickens ever get access to the land set aside for them appears to be immaterial. Let me explain: if these rules applied to people, and I am just inside an open door leading to a field of milk and honey which was being jealously guarded by some Terminator (click on picture...24K sound file!), the EC would say that I was a Free Range person. But you and I know that I would never try to go through that door... I value my arms and legs too much! In the same way, many supposedly Free Range chukkies never ever see the light of day! The rules are ludicrous, yet profit, as usual, is king. For your average kitchen gardener and domestic chicken-keepers like us, to maintain that amount of land is obviously impractical, and however well we look after our chukkies, and in spite of the fact that our chukkies are almost certainly happier, healthier and better adjusted than the average free range hen, we still cannot call them Free Range. The rules are ridiculous, and simply underline that the emphasis, in spite of token 'humanitarian' gestures is ever on profit and not welfare.

What goes around, comes around! Please, if you can, consider what you are contributing to when you buy your eggs. Anybody can do their bit, even if, like US, it's just a little bit.