Aviaries and the future of free range

Picture: The top tier of Vencomatic’s aviary system

Crucial decisions about the future of aviary systems in Britain are due to be made in the coming months. The outcome could affect the entire future of free range. The vital questions centre on the first major multi-tier laying unit to be built in this country. It consists of two houses each containing 16,000 birds and linked by a central egg unit and is understood to have cost well in excess of £500,000.

The birds are stocked at 9 birds per square metre on three raised levels which amounts to a floor area rate of 15 birds per metre. They have feed and water on all three levels and nestboxes on two.

It has already been given a one-flock approval to produce free range eggs under the Lion Code. Officials from the RSPCA’s Freedom Food scheme have visited the site once and are expected to make a second visit before making a final decision. But the assurance scheme has already approved standards for aviary systems which will become part of the welfare code after “initial observations on multi-tier systems have been completed”.

If this unit is granted full Lion Code and Freedom Food approval it will open the door for major multi-tier development across the country. The implications for the free range industry are profound and decision makers face a series of critical questions in three areas:

Welfare The major question is whether birds on the upper tiers of an aviary ever visit the floor level to take advantage of the litter or to go out onto the range. But there are also issues about inspecting the flock and locating sick or injured birds.


Economics Aviary units will be able to produce free range eggs cheaper than single level units. This will enable them to meet supermarket demands for lower prices. But it would leave existing producers struggling to cope with increasing pressure on margins.

Consumer Perception Perhaps the most vital issue of all. When the media delivers images of multi-storey hen sheds to consumers how will they react? If they decide this is a lurch towards the industrialisation then the image of free range could be permanently damaged. Every free range producer would then suffer.

Such is the importance attached to the issue by BFREPA that a three-man delegation

is to fly to Holland next month to visit Dutch aviary units. It also intends to survey members to canvass their views.

The RSPCA is prepared to accept aviaries because it sees them as a useful weapon in its determined battle to get all cages banned by 2012. It’s position is made clear in its new standards document. It says: “The RSPCA recognises that aviary systems can offer many additional benefits to bird welfare including improved litter quality, the provision of perches at different levels and the inclusion of manure belt facilities which can help to avoid the build up of noxious gases such as ammonia.

“These systems will be closely monitored over the next 12 to 18 months and the Welfare Standards will be reviewed in light of further progress made in this area.” It advises producers wishing to install aviary systems to contact its farm animals department.

The central RSPCA rules are that all birds destined for aviaries will have to be reared under similar conditions; stocking density must not exceed 9 birds per square metre of useable area and 15 birds per square metre of floor; maximum flock size is 16,000 birds and maximum colony size 4,000. The maximum number of tiers above the floor is two and the highest tier should not exceed two metres. There must be half a metre between levels. Birds must not have to travel more than 20 metres to a pophole.

One of the major suppliers of aviaries in the UK will be Vencomatic which builds and installs Red-L equipment and other aviary-type systems.


The company’s Paul Turley said: “I am absolutely convinced that the aviary system is on its way in this country.

“There is a great deal of interest within the industry and we have clients in the pipeline who are prepared to go ahead with installing units when the necessary approvals from BEIC and the RSPCA are in place.”

He estimated the cost of an aviary installation, less the building, at around £13 per bird and said he believed the average aviary flock size in Britain would be between 12-16,000 birds. The design of his company’s system already in use throughout Europe and the US has been adapted for the British market by reducing the number of levels from four to three.

“We also offer rearing installations which will enable pullet rearers to be in a position to supply aviary units,” said Mr Turley.