Code for Chicken Welfare Standards

Legal basis and relationship

Republic Act No. 8485 (the Animal Welfare Act of 1998) authorizes the promulgation of animal-welfare rules, and the DA issues this Code pursuant to its provisions (DA AO No. 12, s. 2002 preface; Section 2.1).
The Code requires farm compliance with DA Administrative Order 39, series of 1999 on the acquisition/purchase of veterinary drugs and biologicals.
The Code requires farm compliance with Department of Health Administrative Order 111-B, series of 1991, including Veterinary Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR) and Veterinary Drug Order (VDO) (Section 13.3).
The Code provides guidance and minimum standards and is intended to complement legal husbandry obligations through welfare-focused requirements (Section 1).

Purpose and welfare freedoms

The Code directs that welfare considerations are essential for keeping and farming animals and that standard welfare procedures have direct economic benefits through improved productivity (Section 1).
The Code is intended to encourage all persons in the poultry industry to adopt the highest standards of husbandry (Section 1).
The Code is structured around the five basic freedoms of animals:
- Freedom from thirst, hunger and malnutrition
- Freedom from physical discomfort and pain
- Freedom from injury and disease
- Freedom to conform to essential behavior patterns
- Freedom from fear and distress (Section 1).
The Code recognizes that chickens are kept in settings from backyard to large commercial enterprises, and welfare obligations fall on those providing day-to-day care (Section 1).

Coverage: farms, persons, and duties

The Code applies to all persons involved in the poultry industry and those handling chickens in farm, hatchery, transport, sale, and slaughter contexts (Section 1; Sections 2–22).
Farms meeting minimum stocking density thresholds must designate an attending veterinarian (Section 2.2).
The Code mandates the designation of a responsible officer/person for implementing good husbandry practices (Section 2.3).
Feeding trials for chickens for scientific purposes must conform to DA AO 40, series of 1999 (Section 2.6).
Farms with specified volumes must register with the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) (Section 2.5).

Veterinary, registration, and registration triggers

All farms with a minimum stocking density of at least 40,000 broilers, 30,000 layers, or 2,000 breeders must have an attending veterinarian (Section 2.2).
The attending veterinarian must be currently registered to the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) with current Professional Tax Receipt (PTR) and TIN (Tax Identification Number) (Section 2.2).
A responsible officer/person must be designated to implement good husbandry practices (Section 2.3).
Farms with 20,000 broilers and 5,000 layers and above, and breeder farms of any volume must be registered with the BAI, and the BAI promulgates necessary guidelines for registration (Section 2.5).
The attending veterinarian’s duties include diagnosis, prescription of treatment regimens, ensuring compliance with the Generics Law and other legal obligations, formulation of disease prevention programs, and implementation of good husbandry practices (Section 3.1).

Definitions that control standards

Attending Veterinarian means a licensed veterinarian adept in poultry medicine and husbandry, responsible for veterinary duties related to farm operations, including diagnosis, prescription of treatment regimens, compliance with legal obligations, disease prevention programs, and implementation of good husbandry practices (Section 3.1).
Breeder means a male or female bird designed to produce fertile hatching eggs for producing chicks for further breeding or for broiler/layer chick production (Section 3.2).
Breeder Farm means the facility where commercial breeder flocks are raised (Section 3.3).
Broiler means a chicken bred to produce meat (Section 3.4).
Brooding means providing artificial heat to chicks from day old until their thermo-regulatory mechanism is functional (Section 3.5).
Chick means the immature bird up to 30 days of age (Section 3.6).
Chicken means the domesticated poultry raised for meat or eggs (Section 3.7).
Cockerel means a young male chicken (Section 3.8).
Day-old Chicks (DOC) means newly hatched chicks (Section 3.9).
Down Time Period means time between harvest of chicken/culls and placement of day-old chicks/pullets devoted to cleaning and preparation of poultry houses (Section 3.10).
Dubbing means trimming of wattle/comb through electroacautering of male breeders to reduce injury due to pecking and fighting (Section 3.11).
Good Ventilation means providing good quality and ample amount of air to chickens (Section 3.12).
Hen means an adult female chicken (Section 3.13).
Layer means the female bird bred to produce table eggs (Section 3.14).
Pullet means a female layer that has not reached its laying age/period (Section 3.15).
Rooster means an adult male chicken (Section 3.16).

Core prohibitions and general responsibilities

The Code affirms that the Animal Welfare Act of 1998 aims to protect and promote welfare of all animals in the Philippines (Section 2.2).
The Code prohibits cruel treatment of any chicken (Section 2.4.1).
The Code prohibits neglecting to supply proper and sufficient food, water and shelter (Section 2.4.2).
The Code prohibits willfully or wantonly causing unreasonable or unnecessary pain, suffering or distress to the chicken, including hanging chickens upside down for long periods and crossing the wings (Section 2.4.3).
The Code prohibits slaughtering, mutilating, or carrying chickens in a manner or position that causes unnecessary pain or suffering (Section 2.4.4).
The Code prohibits keeping alive any chicken in a condition that is cruel/inhumane to keep it alive (Section 2.4.5).
Feeding trials for scientific purposes must conform to DA AO 40, series of 1999 (Section 2.6).

Housing and space requirements

Chickens must be housed in houses and cages designed, constructed, and properly maintained to provide good ventilation, protection from draft and strong winds, and minimized risks of injuries and disease (Section 4.1).
Welfare advice must be sought when purchasing new cages/equipment, constructing new buildings, or modifying existing buildings, and such advice is available from qualified advisers with experience from BAI, DA-regional offices, PCPP, academic institutions, and training centers, whether private or government employees (Section 4.2).
Floors and other surfaces must be designed, constructed, and maintained to minimize injury and disease risk and adequately support chickens, and chickens must have enough space to lie down all at the same time, with reference to Appendices I and II (Section 4.3).
Alternative husbandry systems that enhance welfare must be adapted when they become available (Section 4.4).
Space requirements by species, breed, strain, and type must be followed, and standards are recommended to fit local climatic conditions, with reference to Appendices I and II (Section 5.1).
Stocking density depends on housing quality/type, capacity to maintain recommended temperature levels, humidity control, removal of noxious gases, and proper lighting; densities must be immediately evaluated during disease outbreaks or when behavioral changes are observed (Section 5.2).
Maximum stocking densities apply only when chickens are housed under good management with optimal temperature and ventilation; otherwise, lower densities must be applied (Section 5.3).
Recommended stocking densities are found in Appendices I and II (Section 5.4).

Equipment, lighting, ventilation standards

Chickens must not be exposed to sharp objects and equipment to avoid injury or pain (Section 6.1).
Automatic feeders and waterers must be checked at least once a day for efficient operation (Section 6.2).
Automated hatchery and environmental control equipment must have adequate back-up systems and alarms (Section 6.3).
Day-old chicks must have enough light, especially during their first three (3) days, to find food and water; an initial minimum light intensity of 40 lux is recommended (Section 7.1).
During night inspection, light intensity of 10 lux may be used to reduce agitation and excitement (Section 7.2).
A standby power supply must be available (Section 7.3).
Lighting programs must follow management guides in Appendix III (Section 7.4).
Proper ventilation must be provided at all times to avoid discomfort due to noxious gases, heat, water vapor, and dust (Section 8.1).
Whenever possible, ventilating fans and alternative methods must be used to maintain humidity approximating the optimal 80% and temperature at 30°C (Section 8.2).
Ideal humidity is 80% and ideal house temperature is 30°C (Section 8.3).
Ammonia levels in poultry houses must not exceed 20 ppm at bird level (Section 8.4).
Other noxious gases must be below 5 ppm (hydrogen sulfide and similar) and carbon monoxide must be below 0.3%; caution is required in using fossil petroleum equipment (Section 8.5).

Temperature, protection, and fire readiness

Newly hatched chicks must have supplementary heat sources because they cannot regulate body temperature effectively; the environment temperature must be brought to a comfortable level (Section 9.1.1).
Supplementary heat must be gradually reduced and may be required up to 4–5 weeks depending on chick behavior and environmental conditions (Section 9.1.2).
Growing adult chickens must be protected from drafts during cold weather and given shade during hot weather (Section 9.2.1).
During hot weather, cool drinking water must be available at all times, and ventilating fans or other cooling systems must be readily available when extreme heat causes distress (Section 9.2.2).
Recommended stocking densities must be followed to allow heat loss through panting, standing erect with wings held away from the body, and raising scapular feathers in hot weather (Section 9.2.3).
Nest boxes must be positioned and constructed so they do not become heat traps (Section 9.2.4).
Housing facilities must maintain temperatures between 19–33°C at all times (Section 9.2.5).
Chickens must be protected from predators, stray animals, and other birds that can cause harm, food competition, or disease transmission (Section 10.1).
Poultry house sites must be chosen considering flood, typhoon, and fire risk (Section 10.2).
Construction for new houses should use materials with high fire resistance, and electrical and fuel installations must be planned to minimize fire incidence risk (Section 10.3).
Poultry houses must be provided with adequate fire-fighting equipment (Section 10.4).
Sufficient exits must be accessible to facilitate evacuation of chickens during emergencies (Section 10.5).

Feed and water obligations

Newly hatched chicks must have access to feeds at least 24 hours but no more than 48 hours (two (2) days) after hatching (Section 11.1).
Growing and adult poultry must have access to feeds at least once every 24 hours (Section 11.2).
Chicken diets must contain adequate nutrients for growth, maintenance, health, and vitality, and standard nutrient requirements for the breed, strain, and type must be followed (Section 11.3).
When mechanical feeding is used, alternative manual feeding systems must be available during power failure (Section 11.4).
There must be enough feeding space per bird, breeder company recommendations must be followed, and for birds in cages, trough space must be no less than 10 cm per bird is recommended (Section 11.5).
Feeder space recommendations are found in Appendices I and II (Section 11.6).
Sufficient potable water must be available at all times (Section 12.1).
Newly hatched chicks must not go without water for more than 72 hours from hatching, and water guard must be in place upon introduction to prevent bathing or drowning (Section 12.2).
A day’s water requirement must be stored in case of water shortage (Section 12.3).
Water must be tested annually for chemical content and microbiological counts, and the standards reference Appendix IV (Section 12.4).
Each bird must have access to at least two drinking points; the number of birds per drinker must never exceed breeder company recommendations (Section 12.5).
For adult fowl in laying cages, at least 10 cm trough space per bird must be provided (Section 12.5).
Waterer space recommendations are found in Appendices I and II (Section 12.6).
Water quality microbiological and chemical standards set “drinkable” versus “bad” levels, including total flora of 10 to 100 number/ml for drinkable water and 100,000 number/ml for bad water, Salmonella 0 for drinkable and > 0 for bad, E. coli 0 for drinkable and 100 for bad, and other chemical thresholds such as ammonia 0 mg/ml for drinkable and 10 mg/ml for bad, turbidity 5 U for drinkable and 25 U for bad, and pH 7 to 8.5 for drinkable and 6.5 to 9.2 for bad (Appendix IV).

Animal health program and health records

Freedom from injury and disease is treated as a basic freedom of all animals (Section 13.1).
The rules implementing DA AO 39 (1999) and DOH AO 111-B (1991) prescribe proper procedures for acquisition/purchase of veterinary drugs and biologicals to ensure medicines are appropriate and correct and prevent abuse, especially antibiotics affecting humans (Section 13.2).
Farm management must comply with DA AO 39 and DOH AO 111-B, including VCPR and VDO (Section 13.3).
Each farm must keep a log book recording the health program, dates treated, vaccinated, dewormed, other observations, activities, and recommendations by the attending veterinarian and other competent technical and management personnel (Section 13.4).
The log book must include the farm’s name and address, current animal population, flock history, and the attending veterinarian’s name with PRC license, PTR, and TIN (Section 13.5).

Disease prevention, detection, and response

Poultry raisers must know disease/distress signs, including reduced feed/water intake, reduced production, changes in activity level/nature, abnormal feathers/droppings, and other physical features (Section 14.1).
Poultry raisers must use an effective health program approved by the poultry veterinarian to prevent infectious disease and internal/external parasitism, and vaccination must be performed by skilled personnel under attending veterinarian supervision (Section 14.2).
When feather picking or cannibalism occurs, adjustments must be implemented by reducing stocking density, light intensity, temperature, and humidity, and pecking-order disturbances must be remedied by removing injured chickens and removing chickens observed to instigate pecking or eliminating shafts of bright sunlight (Section 14.3).
Dead chickens must be removed immediately and disposed of properly and hygienically, and treatment and response must be recorded for disease investigation assistance (Section 14.4).
Only veterinary drugs approved by the proper regulatory agency may be administered, and administration must be under the direction of the attending veterinarian (Section 14.5).
Chickens with incurable disease, zoonotic diseases, or significant deformity must be removed from the flock and humanely destroyed immediately (Section 14.6).
Poultry houses, premises, and equipment must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before restocking, and proper down time periods must be observed based on attending veterinarian recommendation (Section 14.7).
Buildings must restrict entry of stray animals, birds, rodents, and predators (Section 14.8).
Outbreaks of communicable and zoonotic diseases must be reported immediately to the appropriate agency (Section 14.9).

Inspections and management practices

Inspections must occur no less than once a day, and inspections are best made separately from other management practices; more frequent inspections are required during hot weather or during disease outbreaks, and dead/injured chickens must be removed immediately for disposal or appropriate treatment (Section 15.1).
Automatic waterers and feeders must be checked regularly for effectiveness (Section 15.2).
When chickens are in cages, it must be possible to inspect all birds in each tier easily and routinely (Section 15.3).
Chickens must be checked regularly for parasites, and necessary treatment prescribed by the attending veterinarian must be provided (Section 15.4).
Artificial insemination must be performed only by competent and trained personnel maintaining high hygiene and avoiding injury/unnecessary disturbance (Section 16.1).
Beak trimming must be performed only by competent and trained technicians within three (3) weeks of age, and operators must not remove more than one-half of the upper beak and one-third of the lower beak; subsequent beak trimming is allowed only to prevent cannibalism, with proper beak-trimming guidelines followed (Section 16.2).
Dubbing, if necessary, must be performed soon after hatching preferably within seventy hours (72 hrs) (Section 16.3).
Sharp spurs on adult males must be trimmed to prevent injury to other birds and handlers (Section 16.4).
Blinkers and other vision impairing equipment are not recommended except when other measures to control cannibalism have failed; if used, competent operators must apply them, and blinkers that cause mutilation of the nasal septum must not be used (Section 16.5).
Castration or surgical caponizing is an unacceptable non-medical practice and must not be performed (Section 16.6).
Devoicing is an unacceptable practice and must not be undertaken (Section 16.7).
Flight restriction procedures like dewinging, pinioning, notching, or tendon severing are unwarranted practices and must not be performed (Section 16.8).
Forced molting is unacceptable while controlled feeding practices must be carried out on healthy birds under close supervision (Section 16.9).
Wing and leg bands for bird identification must be checked regularly and loosened or removed when necessary to avoid injury; webbing between toes may be used for identification by marks made within seventy-two (72) hours of hatching (Section 16.10).

Hatchery management and DOC brooding

Hatchlings/day-old chicks must be handled gently when transferred from hatchers to the chick room (Section 17.1).
The processing room must be well ventilated (Section 17.2).
Chick boxes must contain the recommended number of chicks to avoid over-crowding and suffocation (Section 17.3).
When vaccination is needed, vaccination must be performed by expert personnel using proper equipment to minimize stress (Section 17.4).
Chick vans must be sufficiently ventilated and, if possible, equipped with fans; vans must not be overloaded to ensure air circulation (Section 17.5).
Culled/excess chicks must be disposed of in the most humane way possible, and thorough inspection must ensure all birds are dead (Section 17.6).
Hatchlings must be brooded within seventy-two (72) hours of hatching; weak, deformed, and unthrifty birds must be culled and destroyed humanely (Section 17.7).
Young birds in brooders must be inspected at least twice every 24 hours, with appropriate actions when husbandry deficiencies are found (Section 17.8).
Hatchlings/day-old chicks must be observed for communicable and infectious disease, with laboratory tests when deemed necessary (Section 17.9).

Transport of DOC: boxes, ventilation, timing

DOC must be placed in properly ventilated carton boxes or plastic crates without overcrowding, and the number per box must range from 80 to 100 head depending on box size, weather, and transport conditions (Section 18.1).
To ensure proper ventilation, up to a maximum of 10 stacking boxes must be observed during loading/stacking (Section 18.1).
Standard chick box size is height 16.5 cm; width 52 cm; length 62.5 cm, capable of holding 100-day old chicks (Section 18.2).
Maximum stacking is 10 carton boxes or 12 plastic crates when loaded inside the chick van (Section 18.2).
DOC must be protected from direct sunlight and cold drafts, and chick vans must be equipped with ventilating fans (minimum of 4), turned on at least 5 minutes before loading to remove stale air (Section 18.3).
Deliveries/transfer must be done during the night when climate is cooler (Section 18.3).
Packing materials inside boxes/crates must be new, clean, dry, and non-toxic, with paper trimmings recommended (Section 18.4).
DOC stocking density for transportation must not be less than 25 square centimeters per bird (Section 18.5).
Dividers (if present) in boxes/crates for transferring/transporting DOC must be secured and stable to prevent entrapment and injury (Section 18.6).
Delivery boxes must indicate the date and time of hatch and dispatch, and written instructions must be provided on required holding conditions for transport responsibility (Section 18.7).
DOC must be brooded as soon as possible after delivery and fresh water must be made available (Section 18.8).

Transport of farm chickens and dressing-plant transport

Herding for transport must be supervised by a competent person, and operations must be done at night or early morning (before sunrise) (Section 19.1).
Chickens must be handled gently and crated carefully, and they must not be held by the feet with the head upside down (Section 19.2).
Sick or injured chickens must be separated from healthy ones and treated and/or culled (Section 19.3).
Hauling crates/cages must prevent escape and prevent protrusion of heads or any body parts; crates must be tall enough to allow chickens to stand, move, and seek comfort (Section 19.4).
Cages must be arranged to ensure proper ventilation (Section 19.5).
Crates must be designed to provide proper ventilation and be tall enough for standing/sitting comfort yet compact enough to prevent injury; they must allow chickens to be put in and taken out without injury (Section 19.6).
The standard measurement of plastic crate is length 77 cm; width 57 cm; height 29 cm (Section 19.6).
Transport vehicles must protect birds in crates from wind and rain and from extreme weather conditions (Section 19.7).
Chickens must not be held in crates/enclosures for longer than 24 hours unless assured access to food and water; if delays are anticipated and holding time is likely to significantly exceed 24 hours, suitable arrangements must be made (Section 19.8).
Contingency plans must be in place to minimize stressful delay and distress to birds (Section 19.9).
The welfare of chickens during transport is a joint responsibility of the owner and transport driver (Section 19.10).
For chickens to dressing plants, chickens scheduled for harvest must not be fed at least 6 hours prior to loading, and must be given fresh water to prepare for travel (Section 20.1).
Herding for harvest must be supervised by a competent person (Section 20.2).
Chickens must be held by the legs, not by the wings, when transferring from poultry house to crates (Section 20.3).
Crates/cages must meet the same escape and body-protrusion prevention standards and provide sufficient height for standing/moving/comfort (Section 20.4).
Cages must be arranged for proper ventilation (Section 20.5).
In steady wind and rain, cages must be covered to protect chickens (Section 20.6).
Chickens must not be held in crates/containers for longer than 24 hours (Section 20.7).
Contingency plans must be in place to minimize and/or handle transport delays that could be stressful (Section 20.8).

Sale and display obligations

Chicken for sale must be unloaded immediately upon reaching destination (Section 21.1).
Stocking densities in cages in slaughtering plants and markets must not exceed densities in appendices by more than 50% for more than 12 hours (Section 21.2).
Chickens must not be held in sale yards for more than 24 hours (Section 21.3).
Chickens must not be left without water for more than 8 hours (Section 21.4).
In public markets and other areas of commerce, tying legs must not exceed 3 hours, and chickens must not be kept upside down; this applies to all kinds of birds including ducks, turkeys, geese, etc. (Section 21.5).
Chickens must be placed in shaded areas while displayed for sale (Section 21.6).

Poultry slaughter welfare rules

At farm level during catching, dim lights or blue lights must be used to reduce struggling (Section 22.1).
The hauling crate must contain only the maximum recommended number of chickens (Section 22.2).
Chickens must not be roughly handled during catching (Section 22.3).
Sufficient ventilation in transport vehicles must be ensured (Section 22.4).
Crate stacks must be well spaced to provide ample air movement while birds are at