Organic chickens and turkeys are able to behave naturally -
grazing, pecking the ground, scratching and dust-bathing.
Organic poultry must have continuous and easy daytime access to
pasture or range covered with suitable vegetation, except in
adverse weather conditions. Organic poultry cannot be
permanently housed, though shelter and protection from predators
must be provided at all times. Pasture must be regularly rested
from poultry to allow vegetation to recover and prevent the
build up of parasites. Chickens being raised for meat (broilers)
must be housed with room for a maximum of 10 birds per square
metre. A flock must not contain more than 1,000 birds.
(Intensively-reared broiler chickens are normally housed in
groups of up to 40,000 in large shed.) For chickens raised to
lay eggs, Soil Association organic rules do not allow more than
six birds per square metre indoors, with a maximum flock size of
2,000 - layers spend at least a year in their accommodation and
so need more space. While intensively rea