Vesta MealsYeah, I'm doing okay. Mostly through diet, it has to be said as I was never particularly active...
Thanks Dan:) The Defra site did indeed proved the answer:)
Free range In Free-range systems the birds are housed as described in the Barn system above. In addition birds must have continuous daytime access to open runs which are mainly covered with vegetation and with a maximum stocking density of 2,500 birds per hectare. In all systems the birds must be inspected at least once a day. At the end of each laying period the respective houses are completely cleared and disinfected.
All EU requirements for the above systems can be found in Council Directive 1999-74-EC, Commission Regulation 2295-2003-EC, as amended by Commission Regulation 1515-2004-EC and Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2002:
Organic systems are similar to those of free range however the guidelines for the birds and their feed are more stringent. The pullets must be raised by certified organic production methods from birth. The layers are required to have outdoor access all year round, or be fed sprouted grains for the period when indoors and all feed must be certified organic. No antibiotics or meat by-products are allowed in the feed and each bird is required to have 2 square feet of floor space.
The minimum requirements for organic farming in the UK are set out in the "Compendium of UK Organic Standards" which can be accessed on the Defra website at : www.defra.gov.uk-farm-organic. In very brief terms housing conditions for organic animals must meet the animals behaviour needs as regards freedom of movement and comfort. Poultry must be reared in open-range conditions and cannot be kept in cages. The buildings must meet certain requirements set out in the Compendium. Poultry must have access to open air runs whenever the weather conditions permit and wherever possible must have such access for at least one third of their life. The land that the poultry range is on must be organic. These are the very basic husbandry requirements of organic poultry in the UK. Annex 1B Section 8 of the Compendium refers.
