MANY free-range egg producers are struggling to fit the new perches required by the RSPCA's assurance scheme, prompting sector leaders to ask the welfare charity for help.

British Free Range Egg Producers Association chief executive Robert Gooch said that mobile units and some older shed designs were proving particularly problematic and, in some cases, it had been found to be impossible to meet the new perching requirements.

Mr Gooch has now written to RSPCA Assured to call for every member experiencing difficulty to be supported through the compliance process – or be given a derogation.

“Since the revisions were first introduced in July 2016 I have been pointing out the difficulties many producers will face retrofitting aerial perches into single-tier houses,” Mr Gooch said. “The design of some producers’ houses makes it practically impossible to achieve.

“We are now coming up to crunch time in terms of implementation and RSPCA Assured must step up to the plate and provide the resources to show how to deliver this new standard imposed on producers.”

All producers in the scheme must provide at least 8cm of perching per bird for all flocks housed after August 2018. BFREPA fought those proposals amid concerns placing additional furniture in sheds would lead to an increase in injuries to hens and hamper stockmanship.

But is has since come to light that some producers cannot install perches because their sheds cannot support the additional weight.

“Aerial perching places a load of two tonnes per 1000 birds, and many house structures were not designed to take this extra weight,” Mr Gooch said. “RSPCA Assured should provide time-limited concessions for those attempting to meet the standard, and derogations for those whose house structures are unable to take the loading for the health and safety of both birds and the farmer and their staff.”

It is estimated that about 250 BFREPA members are affected by the changes – and the association is advising that any members experiencing difficulties should contact RSPCA Assured immediately.