8Perches

8 Perches

8 Perches

(1) A person must not confine laying fowl in a furnished cage unless—

(a) a perch is provided for use by the fowl, and

(b) the arrangements for the provision of a perch for the fowl comply with the minimum standards for providing perches for laying fowl under subsection (2).

Maximum penalty—

(a) for an individual—50 penalty units, or

(b) otherwise—200 penalty units.

(2) For subsection (1), the minimum standards for providing perches for laying fowl are as follows—

(a) the perch must be a perch or platform that—

(i) is raised above the floor of the cage, and

(ii) allows sufficient height above the perch to allow the fowl to perch in an upright perching position, and

(iii) does not have sharp edges, and

(iv) is of sufficient width to properly support the fowl’s feet, and

(v) allows the fowl to grip the perch without risk of the fowl’s feet or claws being trapped or stuck in the perch’s structure, and

(vi) is otherwise designed or placed to minimise the following—

(A) the risk of injury to fowl in using the perch,

(B) the risk of vent pecking of the fowl when using the perch,

(C) the exposure of fowl below the perch to excreta from fowl using the perch,

(b) the length of the perch must provide a linear distance of at least 15cm for each fowl confined in the cage.