EIP Agri project – Maintaining Feather Cover

Purpose

The ‘Maintaining feather cover in laying hens‘ report is the culmination of a two-and-a-half year Defra funded project through the EIP, to explore ways of improving flock management, reducing injurious pecking in laying flocks and enhancing the welfare of laying hens and pullets.

Results from a 2-year study by the UK’s Laying Hen Welfare Forum (LHWF) show that a new approach – known as Motivational Interviewing (MI) – has encouraged farmers to take ownership of the issue.

The results are important as the LHWF work is to support laying hen producers to manage Injurious pecking and maintain good feather cover within their flocks. The government potential is to phase out Infra Red Beak Treatment so that the industry can possibly move to managing flocks with intact beaks.

The full report can be found on this website and additionally on EIP- AGRI https://ec.europa.eu/eip/agriculture/en/node

The LHWF consists of the following Operational Group:

Andrew Joret (Chairman) – BEIC

Mark Williams – BEIC

Robert Gooch – BFREPA

Stephen Lister – Poultry Veterinary Surgeon

Aimee Mahony – NFU

Claire Weeks – University of Bristol

Jessica Stokes – Royal Agricultural University

Kate Norman – RSPCA representative

David Brass – The Lakes Free Range Egg Company

Mike Tyres – Stonegate Farmers representative