Husbandry systems

Legal requirements for furnished cage systems in Germany

Minimum German statutory requirements for laying hens kept in furnished cage systems:

800cm² absolute usable area per laying hen or 900cm² per laying hen with 2 or more kg live weight
60 cm minimum height at the front side of the husbandry system, 50 cm in the remaining cage area
at least 2 perches must be provided per husbandry system which have to be installed in two different heights
nests and litter area must be provided

NOTE: ethological behaviour observations show, that the litter area and nests are not sufficient and the perches do not provide enough room for all hens. This husbandry system is therefore to be seen as a cage system, although it has been improved in some details.