Adding natural cover to poultry range can bring a whole host of benefits

Under the RSPCA welfare standards free-range producers have to ensure there is natural cover for the birds every season of the year
Under the RSPCA welfare standards free-range producers have to ensure there is natural cover for the birds every season of the year

As the domestic hen is descended from red junglefowl which roamed the forests of south east Asia it’s not surprising that they are at home among the trees.

Research has shown that providing good natural cover encourages hens to explore the range more which can in turn bring a wealth of benefits, including:

• Reduced mortality rates

• Reduced injurious pecking behaviour and improved plumage condition

• Expression of natural behaviour through additional dustbathing and foraging opportunities

• Improved litter conditions indoors

• Reduced risk of disease spread due to the greater dispersal of manure load

• Reduced poaching around popholes

• Diet supplementation from both the vegetation and the insects attracted by it.

Planting natural cover close to the popholes will help with initial encouragement of birds out onto the range. Additional plants (together with artificial shelters) distributed evenly across the range can encourage birds to use as much of the range as possible.

But as well as improving the hen’s health and welfare, there are also economic benefits to natural cover with research by FAI Farms in 2011 showing a reduction in egg seconds and a reduction in mortality when tree cover is provided.

Natural cover on the range, in the form of trees, shrubs or other canopy forming plants, has been a requirement for all Freedom Food free-range laying hen scheme members since October last year (2014).

Under the RSPCA welfare standards free-range producers have to ensure there is natural cover for the birds every season of the year.

The vast majority of Freedom Food free range members have now planned, invested in and planted effective range cover and many are already seeing the benefits.

On permanent sites, tree, shrubs and hedges provide excellent cover that the birds can use well. Having permanent planting brings with it the benefits of minimal maintenance and replanting costs as well as year round cover.

Trees such as birch, alder, rowan and willow are popular on the range because they are fast growing, hardy trees that perform well in poor soils and exposed conditions. Rowan and birch provide a light canopy cover that does not require pruning.

Choosing trees with a light canopy will allow other plants to grow at ground level, providing additional enrichment for hens.

On temporary or rented sites where planting trees may be problematic, crops and shallow rooted shrubs can be good solutions.

Shrubs such as hawthorn, elder and dogwood provide fast growing hardy cover. Hawthorn does not have a large root system so can be removed from temporary sites.

Crops like artichoke, perennial chicory, kale and dwarf sorghum have characteristics which may be considered suitable to satisfy the standard whilst remaining practical. Look for crops that stand well through winter, provide a good canopy and don’t grow too densely.

Other plants like maize and miscanthus, an ornamental grass, can work well for laying hens too, as long as they are not planted too densely so the rest of the range still visible and birds can get in amongst the vegetation. To be compliant with the standard, the vegetation must form a canopy cover.”

Some free-range producers have taken more innovative approaches to providing natural cover, by planting trees in pots and planting strips of different types of vegetation to provide year round cover. If you have any ideas relating to more novel approaches, contact the RSPCA’s Farm Animal Department to check its suitability.