BEST

PRACTICE
GUIDELINES
CAGE-FREE
EGG FARMS

1
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
Summary of recommendations 03

Introduction 05

Egg production 06

Floor eggs 07

Natural behaviours 09
Space 09
Nests 11
Perches 12
Foraging and dustbathing 13
Pecking materials 15

Handling and staff behaviour 16

Genetics 18

Disease prevention and management 19

Biosecurity 21
Vaccination and medication 23

Severe feather pecking 25

Rearing 28
Beak trimming 29
Monitoring 30

Euthanasia (mercy killing) 32

Training 32
Acceptable methods 33
Unacceptable methods 34
Following euthanasia 34
Cause of death 35

Acknowledgements 36
 SUMMARY OF
RECOMMENDATIONS
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS BEST PRACTICES

Housing system No cages

Air quality Limits set for air quality Ammonia no greater than 15ppm

Daily temperatures are recorded,

Temperature Heat and cold stress are avoided
alarms and procedures in place

All hens must have access to dry,

good-quality litter
Flooring At least 1/3 of useable area is
covered in litter
Litter is minimum 10cm deep

Sufficient space to allow normal Maximum of nine birds/m2 of useable

Space
behaviour floor space

Eight hours continuous light every Eight hours continuous light and eight
Lighting 24 hours hours continuous dark every 24 hours

Minimum of 10 lux Minimum 20 lux

All hens must have access to dry,

soft and clean enclosed nests
Nests
Minimum one enclosed nest per
Minimum one enclosed nest per five
seven hens (individual nests) or
hens (individual nests)
1m2 for 120 birds (group nests)

All hens have access to raised Specifications for type, design and
Perches perches placement of perches

Minimum of 15cm perch space per

hen

Enrichment must be provided at all Specifications for type, quantity and

Enrichment
times replacement of enrichment

© 2022 Global Food Partners 3

 MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS BEST PRACTICES

Group size Group size does not exceed 6000 birds

Humane handling and no Specifications for appropriate and

Handling
mistreatment inappropriate handling methods

Multiple inspections per day, with staff

Inspections Daily flock inspections trained to recognise signs of normal
and abnormal health and welfare

Sick or injured animals are treated Health plan in place and flock health
appropriately preventatively managed
Health
Contingency plan in place for
emergency situations such as highly
infectious disease outbreak

Appropriate procedures in place for

humanely killing badly sick or injured
birds that cannot be treated
Euthanasia
Cervical dislocation or captive bolt
devices used

Birds checked to confirm death

Flock monitored for signs of severe Regular feather scoring, records kept
Severe feather feather pecking and benchmarking
pecking
Preventative methods used

Forced moulting Prohibited

Restricted access to farm, fencing,

overalls and boot covers, sanitisation
Biosecurity Biosecurity methods in place
between sheds, moving from
youngest to oldest flocks

© 2022 Global Food Partners 4

 INTRODUCTION
• These guidelines are an educational resource for egg producers in adopting and maintaining
cage-free systems.

• In all countries and industries, farmers must be well-equipped with knowledge of best practices
to establish and maintain sustainable, profitable farms with high animal welfare standards.

• This document has been written through close consultation with egg producers.

• The content is based on international best practices and information collected on farms and
through interviews with farmers.

• Information is given on key housing and management aspects, focusing on features of egg
production that can be particularly challenging.

• Implementation and training are required at the farm level and should be undertaken by
experienced people.

• This information should be used as a general guide. Specific information on aspects, such as
disease control, should be obtained from a local poultry veterinarian.

Large-scale multi-tier (‘aviary’) system in China

© 2022 Global Food Partners 5

 EGG PRODUCTION
The number of eggs produced compared with the costs determines the farm’s productivity.
The advice in this guide will help farmers to enhance their farm productivity.

‘Productivity’ refers to the number of eggs

laid (the farm ‘output’) in relation to the costs
(or ‘inputs’) that go into producing the eggs,
including feed, housing, water, staff, and
equipment.

The ‘egg production rate’ or ‘egg-laying

rate’ refers to the number of eggs divided
by the number of birds. For example, if 100
hens produce a total of 80 eggs, the egg
production rate is 80%. This can be calculated
daily or over longer periods. Egg collection in a shed

Egg production rates greater than 90% during

peak lay are achievable in cage-free systems
through good bird and shed management.

Feed is one of the highest costs for farmers. The

‘feed conversion ratio’ refers to the weight of
feed consumed divided by the weight of eggs
produced. For example, a feed conversion ratio
of two means that, on average, the flock is
consuming 2kg of feed to produce 1kg of eggs.

Genetics companies produce breed

management guides to help farmers with
bird management. Some produce guidelines
specifically for cage-free systems. These
are usually available online for free. Some
companies also produce short training videos,
available on their websites.
Eggs on conveyor belt

© 2022 Global Food Partners 6

 FLOOR EGGS
There should be at least one nest per five birds or 1m2 per 120 birds for group nests to
reduce competition and minimise floor eggs.

Floor eggs should be collected frequently to prevent more eggs being laid in the same spot

Eggs laid outside the nest boxes, for example, in the litter area or on the slats, are commonly
called ‘floor eggs’. Floor eggs can indicate a health or welfare problem and inconvenience the
farmer. More labour is required to collect the eggs, and the eggs can be poorer quality and
dirtier than those laid in nests. All of these factors can reduce the farm’s profitability.

Hens start looking for nests before they lay their first egg, so it is good to have nests available
approximately a week prior to the start of lay, usually around 18-20 weeks of age and, at the
latest, when the first egg is seen. Providing good quality, enclosed nest boxes can reduce floor
eggs. They can also reduce stress and the development of abnormal behaviours such as cloacal
cannibalism.

To reduce the number of eggs laid on the floor, hens should have access to nest areas which:

• are enclosed and provide a private/secluded space for the hen to lay;

• have a soft, comfortable surface. For example, rubber mats, AstroTurf or clean straw;

• are cleaned regularly and well-maintained.

© 2022 Global Food Partners 7

 When hens first start laying, floor eggs can be as high as 10-20%, but this should decrease to
approximately 1-5% at peak lay with good management. This includes:

• Egg collection: Eggs should be collected frequently and not left on the floor. This will help
prevent more eggs from being laid in the same place. This should be done more regularly
when the birds first start laying and are still learning to use the nests.

• Lighting: Even lighting should be provided throughout the shed (avoiding dark areas),
with darker nest areas. Flaps are often used to keep nest boxes dark while still allowing
hens to enter easily.

• Ventilation: There should be good and even ventilation throughout the shed and nest
boxes. If it is too hot, cold or windy inside the nests, the hens may not want to lay their eggs
in them.

• Training: Birds may need training to use the nests by slowly and quietly walking through
the shed in the morning (when most hens lay their eggs), encouraging hens to move
towards the nest boxes, and promptly removing eggs from the floor.

• Equipment: Features in the shed should not make the nests difficult to access. For example,
feeders, drinkers and perches should be positioned so that they do not block access to the
nests or cause crowding at the entry to the nests.

• Bird health: Maintaining good flock health.

• Records: Recording egg production helps farmers know what is normal for the farm and
ways to improve. It can also help to identify disease. Records should be kept of:

• total number of eggs – record the number of eggs in the nests and on the floor
separately;

• number of bird deaths;

• amount of feed and water consumed;

• average egg weights;

• daily inspections, including bird behaviour and feather condition, any changes to the
shed environment, diet or daily activities;

• bird health.

© 2022 Global Food Partners 8

 NATURAL BEHAVIOURS
Hens should have enough space and access to good-quality perches, nests, litter, and
pecking objects to allow natural behaviours and reduce problems on the farm.

Hens are motivated to perch, peck the ground to look for food, dustbathe (crouching and
spreading material through the feathers), and lay their eggs in an enclosed nest. They should
be in an environment that allows them to perform all these behaviours.

When hens are able to perform natural behaviours, it can reduce stress, reduce feather pecking
and smothering, improve disease resistance, and increase egg productivity and farm profits.

SPACE

Group of hens with space to move and scratch the litter

Stocking density should not exceed nine birds per m2 of useable floor
space, regardless of housing system or management. Useable floor space
includes the litter area and raised slatted areas, but not nest boxes or perch
space.

© 2022 Global Food Partners 9

 When birds have enough space, they can perform normal behaviours. If insufficient space
is provided, it can cause:

• Stress

• Decreased activity

• Increased poor behaviours

• Poor environmental conditions

• Poor health

All of these can reduce farm profits.

The number of birds inside the shed must allow the ventilation system and shed management
to maintain the floor and air quality in good condition. The number of birds placed in a shed
must also consider bird health and behaviour and the availability of feeders, drinkers, perches
and nest boxes.

Video on
Hens with adequate space
stocking density

© 2022 Global Food Partners 10

 NESTS

Hen sitting in a nest box with soft flooring, clean surfaces and enough space

Enclosed, private nests can reduce cannibalism, stress and floor eggs.

• Nests should provide a clean and soft surface. The nests should be cleaned regularly,
and if material such as straw is used, this should be replaced weekly.

• Hens should have at least one nest per five birds or 1m2 per 120 birds for group nests to
reduce competition and increase nest use.

Hen entering a nest box Row of nest box flaps with Video showing
hen exiting a nest box nests

© 2022 Global Food Partners 11

 PERCHES
Each bird should have at least 15cm of perch
space on which they can sit and stand
comfortably using a normal posture.

Birds naturally perch or ‘roost’ on branches

at night for safety. Perches can improve
muscle and bone health, reduce fearfulness
and aggression, improve litter condition, and
reduce feather pecking and smothering.

• Perches should be provided from the first

week of age.

• The design and position of perches in

the shed should allow hens to stand
comfortably, using normal posture.

• Perches should: Hen standing comfortably on a perch

• be non-slip and have no sharp surfaces;

• allow hens to stand comfortably;

• be well-spaced throughout the shed

and easily accessed;

• be approximately 3-4cm wide;

• be elevated;

• kept clean and dry.

Hen standing comfortably on a perch

Video on perches

© 2022 Global Food Partners 12

 FORAGING & DUSTBATHING

Hen dustbathing in dry and friable litter Video of litter

The flooring material should allow foraging and dustbathing. Birds should have access to a
littered area at all times.

• Flooring material (litter) should cover a large area of the shed (at least 1/3 of the usable
area) and be at least 10cm deep. Good litter materials include chopped straw, sawdust
and rice hulls.

• Litter should be kept dry and friable (crumbly). It should easily fall into small pieces between
the fingers.

• Litter should not be damp, wet, ‘sticky’ or hard. This prevents normal behaviours and can
cause bad air quality, reducing bird health and productivity and the health of humans
working in the shed.

• Lighting should be a minimum of 20 lux to encourage foraging behaviour.

• Good litter management relies on good ventilation, good drinker management, regular
monitoring, aerating or replacing litter, and quickly fixing problems.

© 2022 Global Food Partners 13

 Video showing
Person checking litter condition in adequate lighting
dustbathing

© 2022 Global Food Partners 14

 PECKING MATERIALS
Many things can be used as pecking materials if
they are stimulating and safe for the birds. Hay
bales, pecking blocks, pecking strings, and food
scattered on the floor, such as grain, are good to
provide regularly. Pecking objects can be scattered
on the floor, hung in nets from the roof or attached
to other objects in the shed.

Birds’ interactions with the items should be

monitored. Birds should regularly interact with the
enrichment by pecking at it. If they lose interest,
the objects should be regularly replaced with new
and different materials. Grain scattered for foraging

Pecking objects should:

• be interactive and stimulating;

• be safe and hygienic;

• not cause any injuries or behavioural problems, such as fearfulness or aggression;

• be plentifully and evenly distributed around the shed to allow easy access for all hens
without competition;

• be provided at all times from the first week of life.

Video on
Grain scattered for foraging pecking objects

© 2022 Global Food Partners 15

 HANDLING & STAFF BEHAVIOUR
Hens are fragile. Gentle handling reduces injuries, stress and disease and can improve
farm profits.

Person gently checking hens

Sometimes, birds need to be handled for inspection, vaccination or treatment.

Hens are fragile, and their wings and legs can be easily broken. If birds are held too tightly, this
can restrict breathing and cause bruising.

Poor handling causes injuries and reduces immune function, increasing disease risks.

Handling hens gently with positive attitudes can improve farm profits.

Staff attitudes and behaviour towards animals are known as stockpersonship. Good
stockpersonship is one of the most important aspects of farm management and is crucial
for animal health, welfare and farm productivity. Key points include:

• Handling should always be done gently, calmly and quietly.

• Birds should be gently lifted with both hands supporting the body or base of the wings and
not lifted or carried by the head, neck, a single wing, feathers, tail or tip of the wings.

• Birds must never be dropped, thrown or kicked.

• All people responsible for handling and managing the birds should be appropriately
trained in good handling and behaviour and monitoring procedures.

© 2022 Global Food Partners 16

 Person checking hen health and gently handling the Video on staff
behaviour
hen by supporting the body

© 2022 Global Food Partners 17

 GENETICS
The breed of hen can affect hen behaviour and health as well as farm practices and
profits. Genetics companies provide guidance.

Large genetics companies often produce information on the breed to guide farmers in managing
the birds. These are usually available online for free.

The breed can have big impacts on welfare and productivity. Impacts include:

• Bone health: Layer hens are fragile and often fracture bones from falling on hard objects.
By managing the flock well, farmers can minimise bone fractures. This includes good
placement of perches and other features to reduce the risk of fractures. Nutrition affects
bone strength, and the birds with the greatest ability to exercise by walking, perching and
performing normal behaviours generally have the strongest bones and muscles.

• Behaviour: The breed can impact the risk of severe feather pecking; some hens have
a lower risk of severe feather pecking with blunter beaks. These hens should be housed
in good environments with good management practices to minimise the risk of severe
feather pecking. The breed can also affect behaviours such as flightiness (excitability and
fear), which could affect ease of management and potential for smothering.

• Disease: Genetics can impact immune function and disease and mortality rates in a flock.

© 2022 Global Food Partners 18

 DISEASE PREVENTION &
MANAGEMENT
Vaccination, farm biosecurity, veterinarians, health plans, good management of the
environment, and euthanasia procedures help to prevent and manage disease.

Person inspecting the hens and keeping records

Preventing disease is crucial for egg production, egg quality, mortality rates, and farm profits.

To prevent disease, it is important to vaccinate, have good hygiene and biosecurity, regularly
monitor the birds’ health and behaviour, provide good quality diets, and maintain good
environmental conditions (temperature, air quality and dry litter).

To manage disease, it is important to have good access to veterinarians, treat individuals and
the flock with appropriate medications, perform regular flock inspections, monitor air quality,
euthanase sick birds, have health plans, and record causes of mortality.

© 2022 Global Food Partners 19

 Sick birds indicating a need for treatment

Low-stress handling of birds helps to maintain a healthy and productive flock. There is a link
between lowering stress and increasing disease resistance.

Low ammonia. Ammonia is a gas produced by bird droppings and smells strongly. High
ammonia concentrations in the air can cause eye and respiratory (breathing) diseases and
even blindness. Air quality also affects the health of humans who work in the sheds. Ammonia
should be no greater than 15ppm. It is usually possible to smell ammonia when it is 15ppm or
higher. However, for a more accurate measurement, equipment (such as tape or electronic
ammonia metres) should be used.

All farms should have an emergency disease response plan to ensure appropriate and quick
action and humane treatment if an infectious disease outbreak occurs.

Veterinarians should be trained in diagnosing common poultry diseases, disease prevention,

and humane methods of euthanasia (mercy killing). Farms should be in close contact with
veterinarians and treat birds using medicines prescribed by a local poultry veterinarian.

Person monitoring the birds and the shed

© 2022 Global Food Partners 20

 BIOSECURITY
Biosecurity refers to practices to prevent diseases from entering the farm.

Most diseases are carried onto the farm by

people, vehicles, equipment or materials, or
other animals such as wild birds or rodents.

Key biosecurity measures to prevent infectious

diseases are listed below.

Hand sanitiser at the entry to a shed

PEOPLE

• All people visiting the farm should wear protective

clothing such as overalls and boot covers or farm
boots, and all visitors should be recorded.

• Staff should not have contact with other birds,

such as pet birds at home or visiting other poultry
farms.

• Staff who need to visit a number of sheds should

visit the cleaner sheds with younger birds first.

• Hand sanitiser and footbaths with disinfectant

should be provided at the entry to each shed.

• Visitors such as technicians and veterinarians

should allow a minimum of 24-48 hours between
farms.

• If there is disease on the farm, biosecurity should

be increased, and visitors to the farm should be
minimised.
Farm visitor in protective clothing

© 2022 Global Food Partners 21

 VEHICLES, EQUIPMENT & MATERIALS

Disinfecting a truck in between visiting farms

• The farm should have fences and signs.

• Trucks should be disinfected between farms, and drivers should not enter the sheds.

• Farm equipment should be regularly cleaned with a disinfectant and not shared with other
farms.

• Feed and water should be stored in sealed, clean conditions.

• Clean water should be provided for drinking. If clean water is not available, the water
should be treated with safe chemicals to inactivate viruses (e.g. 1-2 ppm chlorine).

• Sheds and equipment should be cleaned and disinfected between flocks.

• Feed, litter and other materials should be from suppliers with good biosecurity.

BIRDS AND OTHER ANIMALS

• No other bird species or pigs should be kept on the same property, and other animals
should be separated from poultry.

• Dead birds should be removed promptly from the area and disposed of hygienically.

• A pest control plan should be in place.

• Wild birds should be prevented and discouraged from accessing the farm, such as by
using netting or fencing to restrict their entry, keeping the area well-drained, and not
providing feed or water outside.

• Follow the ‘all in, all out’ principle – all birds in a flock arrive together and leave together.

© 2022 Global Food Partners 22

 VACCINATION & MEDICATION
Vaccination and maintaining a clean shed environment are crucial in preventing most
diseases.

Person administering vaccine via wing jab to two pullets

Most diseases can be prevented by vaccination and maintaining a clean environment inside
the shed and on the farm. Key recommendations include:

• The birds and their environment should be inspected at least daily and more frequently
during weather extremes or disease outbreaks.

• Any sick bird should be appropriately treated as soon as possible. This may involve
separating and medicating individual birds, medicating the whole flock, and making
changes to improve the shed environment.

• All farms should have a vaccination program and health plans in place, developed with
a veterinarian.

• Vaccination programs should be specific to the disease risk in the particular region.

• Veterinarians’ and manufacturers’ instructions should be followed when administering

vaccinations and medications.

• Experienced veterinarians should train and supervise everyone who will be medicating or
vaccinating.

© 2022 Global Food Partners 23

 • Only well-trained and experienced people should vaccinate birds, and great care should
be taken to ensure that it is given correctly and that injections do not enter any bodily
organs.

• Any equipment or materials used for vaccinating or medicating should be good quality
and kept clean, well-maintained and replaced as needed.

• For injections, needles should be changed regularly as per manufacturer instructions. The
thickness of the needle needs to be small when vaccinating young birds to avoid injury.

• Separating birds into smaller groups for vaccination (using partitions or barriers) can be
helpful in preventing birds from crowding together in one area of the shed. This reduces
the risk of birds piling on top of each other, causing injury or death.

• Dimming the lights can help to keep the birds calm and also prevent crowding. However,
workers need enough light to effectively vaccinate and inspect the birds.

• The birds should be carefully monitored during vaccination to make sure they do not
crowd in corners where they can suffocate and die. Separating birds into smaller groups
for vaccination (using partitions or barriers) can be helpful in preventing birds from
crowding together in one area of the shed.

• Birds should be monitored before, during and after vaccination for abnormal behaviours.
They should eat and drink normally after vaccination. Abnormal behaviours can include
noisiness, flightiness, panicking, packing, or being very quiet.

• Examples of common vaccines, vaccination methods and vaccination programs are

given in some breed management guides. There are also online training manuals on the
administration of vaccines for poultry.

© 2022 Global Food Partners 24

 SEVERE FEATHER PECKING
The risk of severe feather pecking and cannibalism can be reduced by providing a good
environment, appropriate diets, and careful bird monitoring and handling.

Careful monitoring of birds

Severe feather pecking is when birds pull out the feathers of other birds. It can lead to injuries,
cannibalism, reduced egg production and high mortality.

Hen with feather loss from severe feather pecking. Image credit: Assurewel.

© 2022 Global Food Partners 25

 Birds pecking at hen with very poor feather coverage and lots of feather loss due to severe feather pecking

Hen with good feather coverage (top) and hen with lots of feather loss (bottom)

Good farms provide enrichment, minimise stress to the birds, regularly monitor health and
behaviour, remove affected and injured birds promptly, provide appropriate nutrition, reduce
stocking density and adjust the diet composition when needed.

© 2022 Global Food Partners 26

 Aspects that reduce the risk of severe feather pecking include:

• Enrichment: Providing pecking objects, enclosed nests, perches and good-quality flooring
materials to peck and scratch.

• Stocking density: Providing enough space for birds to move and perform normal
behaviours.

• Rearing: Matching the rearing and laying environments as closely as possible (both
cage-free).

• Diet: Feeding mash rather than pellets, and adequate insoluble fibre, protein, vitamins
and minerals, avoiding sudden changes and providing a sufficient number of feeders and
drinkers.

• Health: Maintaining a comfortable environment, vaccination and biosecurity, regular

health monitoring and prompt treatment of sick and injured birds.

• Environmental conditions: Providing optimal temperature, humidity and air quality

through good ventilation systems and management.

• Genetics: Using a breed with a lower risk of feather pecking.

• Human behaviour: Calm, positive and regular interactions with the birds, such as calmly
and quietly walking through the shed with no sudden changes.

• Lighting: Distributing lighting evenly with at least eight hours light and six hours dark each
day, avoiding flickering lights.

Artificial devices that restrict the birds’ vision, such as blinkers or glasses attached to the
beak or nostrils or contact lenses, should not be used.

Video showing
Hen with good feather cover and no evidence of severe feather pecking feather pecking

© 2022 Global Food Partners 27

 REARING
The environment that the young birds grow up in is crucial for the laying period and should
be as similar as possible to the laying facility for egg production.

Pullets should be raised in a cage-free environment that matches the laying environment as much as possible

Chicks and pullets (young birds) are usually housed in a separate facility and then moved
to a facility for laying eggs. This early life period is called ‘rearing’. Early life experiences have
big impacts on hens later in life, and a good rearing environment helps with a successful and
profitable laying period.

Making the housing and management as similar as possible in rearing and laying helps to avoid
problems including severe feather pecking throughout their whole lives. Breed standards, poultry
veterinarians, housing manufacturers and nutritionists should be consulted for the rearing and
laying periods.

Hens in cage-free systems should also be reared in cage-free facilities. Both rearing and laying
housing should include perches, good-quality litter (flooring material) and pecking objects
placed in similar positions in both facilities.

© 2022 Global Food Partners 28

 BEAK TRIMMING
When performed, beak trimming should be done at the hatchery using infrared technology.
Alternatives such as beak abrasives can also be used.

Beak trimming is the removal of the tip of the beak to reduce the damage caused by severe
feather pecking. It causes pain, and if performed, it should be done with infrared technology at
the hatchery. Non-painful alternatives include pecking blocks that blunt the beaks gradually
and beak abrasives, such as sandpaper at the bottom of the feeder, so birds wear their beaks
down when they feed.

Hen with blunted beak

© 2022 Global Food Partners 29

 MONITORING
Monitoring the flock for changes in health, behaviour and feather condition and recording
any changes helps to prevent and manage problems.

Monitoring birds for changes in health, behaviour and feather condition and recording any changes

Staff must monitor birds regularly for changes in health, behaviour and feather condition. Quick
action can then be taken before the problem gets out of control, which will help reduce impacts
on egg production and bird welfare.

• Bird health and behaviour should be checked at least once every day. Recording feather
condition can help farm staff notice changes over time.

• Birds with wounds should be quickly removed and treated to avoid further injuries and death.

• Staff should recognise different types of pecking; severe feather pecking is at the body,
and aggressive pecking is at the head. They should also notice flightiness or changes in
vocalisations. Cannibalism should not occur, but if it does, it should be immediately addressed
and never be greater than 1% over the life of a flock.

© 2022 Global Food Partners 30

 Person inspecting the hens and shed environment

Person monitoring internal shed conditions

© 2022 Global Food Partners 31

 EUTHANASIA (MERCY KILLING)
Good procedures for euthanasia are important to minimise suffering and prevent the
spread of disease and cannibalism in the flock.

Euthanasia or ‘mercy killing’ is the humane killing of an animal suffering from injury or disease
from which it cannot recover.

Good farms have processes in place for very sick or injured birds. They separate and treat sick
or injured birds with medicine and have appropriate procedures for euthanising individual birds
when there are no treatment options.

Infectious diseases and cannibalism can spread quickly throughout a flock, causing high
mortality rates. When there are no treatment options, euthanising badly injured or sick birds can
prevent further suffering and prevent cannibalism or disease from spreading throughout a flock.

If performed poorly, euthanasia can cause pain and distress, so it must be quick (causes
immediate death), consistent (the same every time) and effective.

TRAINING
Training of farm staff in euthanasia procedures by people who are experienced and
competent is essential.

There should always be someone at the farm who

can perform euthanasia.

Farms should have set procedures, and farm staff

should be trained in how to perform euthanasia
correctly and be closely supervised when learning.

If there is any doubt about how to kill the bird or

there is any risk that the bird will not die on the first
attempt, assistance should be sought.

Veterinarians or farmers who are experienced in

the method may train and supervise. Videos and
photos can also be sent to appropriate people to
check the procedure. person providing training on farm

© 2022 Global Food Partners 32

 ACCEPTABLE METHODS
The only acceptable, accessible methods of on-farm euthanasia of individual birds are
cervical dislocation and captive bolt devices.

Only acceptable methods of euthanasia should be used. This includes (i) cervical dislocation
and (ii) captive bolt devices.

Cervical dislocation
Cervical dislocation is the most common method used on farms. It is the quick and controlled
stretching of the neck to instantly dislocate the neck (spinal cord) from the skull (brain). It requires
no specialised equipment.

Cervical dislocation should always kill the bird instantly. If it is performed incorrectly, it causes
extreme pain and suffering.

Person correctly performing cervical dislocation on the left

Captive bolt
Captive bolt devices are gun-like devices that shoot a bolt into the brain, causing brain damage
and immediate death. The bird should be restrained gently but firmly, and the device positioned
at the top of the head.

A backup method such as cervical dislocation should always be available in case there is any
doubt that the bird has been killed. Devices must be well designed and maintained and kill the
bird instantly.

© 2022 Global Food Partners 33

 UNACCEPTABLE METHODS
Unacceptable methods are likely to cause extreme suffering in the birds.

The following methods cause extreme suffering and must never be used for killing:

• Burial

• Throwing into a well

• Incinerating (burning)

• Twisting or crushing the neck

• Freezing

• Dumping

• Suffocating (such as placing birds in plastic bags)

• Hitting with a stick

• Bloodletting (throat cutting)

• Waiting for birds to die naturally

FOLLOWING EUTHANASIA
Always check for signs of death after euthanasia, including the absence of a blink reflex
when the eye is touched gently.

Birds must always be checked to confirm death.

Three or more signs of death should be checked, including:

• Loss of consciousness;

• Absence of a ‘blink’ reflex when the eye is gently touched;

• Maximum dilation of the pupil;

• Absence of breathing for at least five minutes;

• For cervical dislocation, an internal gap between the skull and the spine can be felt in the
neck.

Violent flapping of the wings can occur after death as a reflex and is not necessarily a sign of life
if the signs of death have been checked.

Bleeding out (cutting the neck to release blood) should only be performed after death is
confirmed.

© 2022 Global Food Partners 34

 CAUSE OF DEATH
Identifying the cause of death can help to prevent future problems in the flocks.

Identifying the cause of death or the reason for euthanasia and recording the causes is a good
management tool. It allows the right treatments to be given to treat disease and prevent future
deaths.

If the cause of death is unknown, a post-mortem can be performed. Veterinarians or poultry

experts should have experience in this.

Birds should always be checked to confirm death before performing post-mortems.

Recording the number of deaths and causes of death can help farmers to identify normal
mortality rates for their farm, and to set benchmarks for future flocks.

© 2022 Global Food Partners 35

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The farmers involved in this project were very generous
with their time, observations and farm access.

We also acknowledge Effective Altruism for providing

funding for the translation and dissemination of these
guidelines and the Tiny Beam Fund, which provided
funding for a research fellowship that informed these
guidelines.

© 2022 Global Food Partners 36