RSPCA welfare standards for hatcheries: chicks, poults and ducklings

The RSPCA welfare standards for hatcheries were developed by the RSPCA's Farm Animals Department to represent good practice in the care and welfare of commercially-farmed chicks, poults and ducklings). The standards are effective from February 2026.

Table of Contents: Introduction; Management; Handling and storage of eggs; Hatching; Handling; Beak trimming of laying hen chicks and turkey poults; Vaccination; Culling and killing; Transport; Cleaning and disinfection of equipment; Index.

32 pages. The standards are continually reviewed and revised by the department.
Please NOTE: No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner.

Please see the latest version of this publication & RSPCA hatchery standard justification. For more information, please click here. 

To see information on the other welfare standards reports on chicken; turkeys; domestic/common ducks; laying hens; pullets (laying hens); pigs; dairy cattle; beef cattle; sheep; and farmed Atlantic salmon, please click here.

ISBN: 978-0-901098-10-8

Price: Online version: Free of charge