More than half of eggs produced in the UK come from free range systems, which are considered to be the gold-standard for animal welfare. However, it is not always clear that all hens in a flock are accessing the facilities available to them in free range systems; for example, a high proportion of hens often appear not to access their range. Thus welfare problems remain: injurious pecking is common, and mortality can be higher and more variable in these systems, with implications for efficiency and sustainability.

This aim of this project is to improve the welfare of laying hens, by informing our understanding of hen behaviour and the way in which hens use their housing.

CLOSING DATE: Sunday, June 19, 2022.

Further details and how to apply