First RSPCA Approved chicken in SA, TAS & VIC
South Australians, Tasmanians and Victorians will have easier access to higher welfare chicken with the launch of the first RSPCA Approved chicken in Coles today.
The chickens are raised in the Bendigo Valley on farms that meet the RSPCA’s high animal welfare standards.
“We’re very excited about this new product line. It’s the first time on the East Coast that the RSPCA has been able to provide a higher welfare meat chicken option to consumers, who we know are looking for it,” said RSPCA Australia CEO Heather Neil.
“The key objective of the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme is to improve the lives of farm animals by moving away from conventional farming systems to production environments that better meet the animal’s welfare and behavioural needs.
“As a result of this new product in Coles and the RSPCA’s work with chicken farmers - hundreds of thousands of meat chickens will have a much better life.”
The RSPCA’S meat chicken standards can be applied to bird-friendly indoor (barn) or outdoor (free-range) systems. RSPCA Approved Bendigo Valley chicken is an indoor system and is labeled as such so consumers can make a fully informed choice.
Animal welfare on RSPCA Approved farms is much higher than what is required by law or recommended in various state codes of practice.
“Achieving a high level of welfare on meat chicken farms entails getting the balance right between all the housing conditions that can have an impact on bird welfare such as space, lighting and enrichment.
“RSPCA assessors regularly visit RSPCA Approved farms to ensure our high standards are maintained.”
On all RSPCA Approved chicken farms:
- chickens have more space
- chickens are free to forage and dustbathe in litter
- chickens have straw bales or other objects to investigate
- chickens have perches to sit on
- chickens have a longer dark period so they can rest properly
To find RSPCA Approved chicken near you visit www.rspca.org.au/shophumane . To view our Approved Farming Standards visit http://www.rspca.org.au/what-we-do/approved-farming-scheme/