{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/welfare-of-farmed-animals-scotland-regulations-2000/schedule-2/paragraph-1",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/welfare-of-farmed-animals-scotland-regulations-2000/schedule-2/paragraph-1.json",
  "legislation": "ssi/2000/442",
  "legislation_title": "The Welfare of Farmed Animals (Scotland) Regulations 2000",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/welfare-of-farmed-animals-scotland-regulations-2000",
  "path": "schedule/2/paragraph/1",
  "kind": "paragraph",
  "number": "1",
  "heading": null,
  "text": "All cages must comply with the following requirements–\n(a) the cage area, measured in a horizontal plane, for each laying hen must not be less than–\n(i) 1000 cm2 where one hen is kept in the cage;\n(ii) 750 cm2 where two hens are kept in the cage;\n(iii) 550 cm2 where three hens are kept in the cage, and\n(iv) 450 cm2 where four or more hens are kept in the cage;\n(b) the minimum cage area for each laying hen must be capable of being used without restriction and may include the area where the non-waste deflection plate (otherwise known as the egg guard) is placed so long as that area is capable of being so used;\n(c) a feed trough of a length not less than 10 cm multiplied by the number of hens in the cage and capable of being used without restriction must be provided;\n(d) except where nipple drinkers and drinking cups are provided, the cage must have a continuous drinking channel which shall not be less than 10 cm multiplied by the number of hens in the cage, and capable of being used without restriction;\n(e) where drinking points are plumbed in, there must be a minimum of two nipple drinkers or two drinking cups within reach of the cage;\n(f) the height of the cage, for 65% of its area, must not be less than 40 cm, and, for the remainder of the area, must not be less than 35 cm (the height being obtained by a vertical line from the floor to the nearest point in the roof and the area being obtained by multiplying 450 cm2 by the number of birds kept in the cage);\n(g) the floor of the cage must be constructed so as to support adequately each of the forward facing claws of each foot; and\n(h) the slope of the floor must not exceed 14% or 8 degrees, when made of rectangular wire mesh, and 21.3% or 12 degrees for other types of floor.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [],
  "outstanding_effects": [
    {
      "type": "revoked",
      "affecting": "ssi/2002/334",
      "affecting_title": "The Welfare of Farmed Animals (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2002"
    }
  ],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2000/442/schedule/2/paragraph/1",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28T22:48:42.912575+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}