Half a billion chickens are bred in Australia every year.
The draft of the new Poultry Standards and Guidelines have been released and they’re as bad as the conditions in which Australia’s chickens live.
For the first time in ten years, the rules governing the living conditions of Australia’s factory-farmed chickens and egg laying hens are up for review. The Poultry Standards and Guidelines will provide mandatory and suggested guidance for farmers on chickens’ living conditions, food and water, and health management, among other things plus cages.
Now is a critical moment for the Australian chickens.
The current draft of the Standards and Guidelines contains little to no progress for animal welfare. This is more than disappointing. Currently, many Australian chickens are kept in barren, cramped conditions with only the space of an A4 sheet of paper. They are bred to grow so fast their bodies may give out under the strain.
Plus at least 11 million laying hens every year are restricted in barren, wire cages without even a nest! Yet the review currently allows introduction of cages for meat chickens and more.
But we have an opportunity to try to change this. The body overseeing the review has made a call for public submissions, and World Animal Protection is putting ours together now.
Don’t miss this chance to have your voice heard
We need as many Australians as possible to add their names to our submission.
Our submission will call for changes such as:
- A nationwide ban on cages for all poultry
- Enough space and provisions for chickens to stretch their wings, forage, perch, dustbathe nest and behave naturally
- Slower growing breeds to enable normal development and reduce health issues
- Minimum light intensity to allow normal eye development, movement and natural behaviours
- Darkness at night so the chickens can sleep and natural light during the day
- Specialised vet care and trained staff to regularly assess chickens’ welfare
- Regular reviews of the Standards and Guidelines so they will always be up to date with the latest science.
Nearly three quarters of all Australians believe farm animals like chickens could be treated better in Australia. If you’re one of them, add your name to our submission now.
Add your name
Your name will be attached to our calls for change. Change that will give millions of chickens more freedom to behave naturally, better nutrition and fewer health issues.
Now more than ever, it’s critical you make your voice heard if you believe we need change for chickens.
