Ideal Space for Laying Hens

The United States Department of Agriculture requires that hens have a minimum of 48 square inches of space. Under these conditions, laying hens are in battery cages and under non-organic rearing standards. While this is the currently acceptable minimum, studies show that battery cage conditions do not provide ideal laying space for hens to produce healthy, quality eggs. As a result, many commercial egg producers are moving to cage-free, natural and organic laying conditions.

  1. Ideal Farming Standards

    • When given a choice, hens prefer natural ground instead of wire mesh.

      While USDA standards for commercial farming are efficient, recent studies show that battery cage environments reduce hens' health, which results in poor quality eggs with a higher rate of bacteria. However, hens that are allowed to engage in natural instincts under more natural conditions are less likely to develop mental behavior disorders such as feather plucking. The USDA found that when laying hens were given a nesting box, hiding curtain and dust-bathing bowl, the quality of the hens' health and eggs were significantly better than laying hens kept in battery cages.

    Ideal Cage Standards

    • Organic and pesticide-free straw makes an ideal nesting box filler.

      Organic and cage-free farming standards allow chickens the maximum area to roam to stretch their wings as well as perching, scratching and nesting space to produce healthier hens and eggs. In commercial laying houses, hens stand, sit and lay on slanted bare wire that allows the eggs to roll into a catching gutter. However, organic and cage-free conditions provide each hen a nesting box large enough to comfortably accommodate the species of hen and allow enough room for it to stand and sit.

    Ideal Non-Commercial Standards

    • While commercial farms may have barn-size hen houses, the hobby chicken farmer does not need a great amount of space to raise one or a few chickens. The ideal laying space for a single chicken can include about a 4-foot space that allows room for the hen to stretch her wings, scratch, bathe and eat. This space should also be able to accommodate a comfortable roosting perch and nesting box, which can be made from filling a clean low-sided wooden crate with clean straw.

    Considerations

    • The ideal laying space for hens is meant to provide room for a hen to perform all of her natural instincts. While this may be a bit more costly at the initial start-up, it is less costly than losing good layers to health and behavior disorders that produce low quality eggs. If the hens are not laying quality eggs, consider what part of their environment fails to simulate a natural day and night cycle environment.