The RSPCA is highlighting the impact a national housing order on birds could have on poultry and what people can do to make sure they're still buying higher welfare, as the government in England reintroduces strict rules to try and tackle the rise of Avian Flu.

Over the past year, the UK has experienced the worst outbreak of Avian Influenza (AI) ever seen with high numbers of sick and dying birds being reported. It's been devastating for the RSPCA - and animal lovers across the country - to see birds perish from this awful disease.

This has also had an impact on the farming industry, with all birds being housed indoors for the first five months of the year in order to prevent the spread of disease. 

This week, a compulsory housing order has been extended across England, with Scotland and Wales keeping this measure under review, meaning all poultry and captive birds must be moved inside. Many people will understandably be concerned about the welfare impact these restrictions might have on poultry and what this means for the chicken, turkey, duck and egg products they buy in supermarkets. 

Kate Norman, poultry expert at the RSPCA, said: "Keeping birds indoors helps prevent potential contact with migrating wild birds that could be carrying the disease. Similar to our previous lockdowns to help prevent Covid-19, these 'flockdowns' prevent birds from going out and mixing with others and spreading the disease.

"However, moving free-range birds - who could previously go outside - indoors can be very stressful for them. So it's really important that poultry keepers make sure they have extra provisions, such as additional environmental enrichment items, and that they are observing their birds more frequently to help better safeguard their welfare. 

"They love straw and Alfalfa - a flowering plant - to peck and pull at and good quality litter is also key in providing excellent enrichment for the birds, as it promotes foraging and dustbathing which are natural behaviours. Keeping up good litter management and replenishing these enrichment items more frequently will help maintain the birds' interest.

"These enrichments will also need to be stored under cover to avoid wild animals coming into contact and transferring the disease.

"Where it is feasible, we also recommend that poultry keepers consider building verandas - for both indoor and free-range birds - as they can offer many welfare benefits and provide free-range birds with natural light, fresh air and more space during periods of mandated confinement. 

"The reality is that we are likely to see housing orders becoming more and more frequent in the future as AI continues to impact wild and domestic birds in the UK. Investing in building these covered porches where they can enjoy natural lighting and a bit of fresh air, could make a huge difference to their welfare long-term."

What does this mean for the public?

Free-range laying hens can still be labelled free-range for up to 16 weeks after a housing order has been put in place. After this, the derogation ends and they must be labelled as 'barn'. 

Kate added: "This can be confusing and concerning for people who are committed to buying free-range eggs. It's a little more complicated for meat chickens as they can still be labelled free-range so long as they have spent a minimum of half their lifetime with access to the outside, or housed during the fixed 12-week grace period. This is why it's important that people always look for higher welfare labels so they know that even if the birds have been kept indoors, they have had a much better quality of life."

Concerned consumers are urged to consider buying higher-welfare products such as those labelled RSPCA Assured. Any RSPCA Assured free range chicken or turkeys that are brought indoors, due to the housing order, will have double the amount of space than specified by industry labels and will continue to benefit from higher welfare conditions such as natural light and enrichment. They will also continue to exclusively be slower-growing breeds, so they will be able to comfortably move around the barns, while displaying their natural behaviours.

RSPCA Assured laying hens, which account for over 90% of all UK free-range eggs, will benefit from more enrichment items such as raised perches inside the barn to allow hens to peck, forage and express their natural behaviour. 

Mike Baker, CEO of RSPCA Assured, said: "Free-range birds will return to the outdoors as soon as governments across the UK consider it is safe to do so. In the interim, we would urge people to continue supporting higher welfare farmers by choosing RSPCA Assured labelled products.

"People who buy RSPCA Assured products can rest assured that whether the birds have been reared indoors or outdoors, they will continue to benefit from being cared for to the RSPCA's higher welfare standards throughout the housing order and beyond."

 For more information visit the website: https://www.rspcaassured.org.uk/news-and-updates/posts/what-is-avian-influenza/