OAR 603-018-0005
Poultry Husbandry, Cage Size Standards for Egg Laying Hens

(1) An owner or operator of a commercial egg-laying farm in Oregon may not confine an egg-laying hen in an enclosure that fails to comply with the following standards:
(a) Any enclosure constructed or otherwise acquired before January 1, 2012, must meet standards equivalent to the requirements for certification established by the 2016 edition of the United Egg Producers’ (UEP) Animal Husbandry Guidelines for U.S. Egg Laying Flocks, which include:
(A) Any enclosure constructed or otherwise acquired prior to December 31, 2003, must provide a minimum “house average” space allowance of 67 square inches of floor space per hen for White Leghorns, and 76 square inches of floor space per hen for Brown Egg Layers;
(B) Any enclosure constructed or otherwise acquired after December 31, 2003, but prior to January 1, 2012, must provide a minimum of 67 square inches of floor space per hen for White Leghorns, and 76 square inches of floor space per hen for Brown Egg Layers;
(b) Any enclosure constructed or acquired on or after January 1, 2012, must meet standards equivalent to the requirements for certification of enriched colony facility systems established in the October 2015 revised edition of the American Humane Association’s (AHA) farm animal welfare certification program, with no enclosure providing less than 116.3 square inches of floor space per hen, including nest, and no enclosure providing less than 17.7 inches of height.
(2) Effective January 1, 2020:
(a) Any enclosure constructed or otherwise acquired before January 1, 2012, must meet standards equivalent to the requirements for certification established by the United Egg Producers’ (UEP) Animal Husbandry Guidelines for U.S. Egg Laying Flocks, which include:
(A) Any enclosure constructed or otherwise acquired prior to December 31, 2003 must provide a minimum “house average” space allowance of 67 square inches of floor space per hen for White Leghorns, and 76 square inches of floor space per hen for Brown Egg Layers;
(B) Any enclosure constructed or otherwise acquired after December 31, 2003, but prior to January 1, 2012, must provide a minimum of 67 square inches of floor space per hen for White Leghorns, and 76 square inches of floor space per hen for Brown Egg Layers;
(b) Any enclosure constructed or acquired on or after January 1, 2012, must meet standards equivalent to the requirements for certification of enriched colony facility systems established in the American Humane Association’s (AHA) farm animal welfare certification program, with no enclosure providing less than 116.3 square inches of floor space per hen, including nest, and no enclosure providing less than 17.7 inches of height.
(c) No less than 25% of all enclosures on a commercial egg-laying farm should meet standards equivalent to the requirements for certification of enriched colony facility systems established in the American Humane Association’s (AHA) farm animal welfare certification program (116.3 square inches of floor space per hen, including nest, and no enclosure providing less than 17.7 inches of height.)
(3) Effective January 1, 2023:
(a) Any enclosure constructed or otherwise acquired before January 1, 2012, must meet standards equivalent to the requirements for certification established by the United Egg Producers’ (UEP) Animal Husbandry Guidelines for U.S. Egg Laying Flocks, which include:
(A) Any enclosure constructed or otherwise acquired prior to December 31, 2003 must provide a minimum “house average” space allowance of 67 square inches of floor space per hen for White Leghorns, and 76 square inches of floor space per hen for Brown Egg Layers;
(B) Any enclosure constructed or otherwise acquired after December 31, 2003, but prior to January 1, 2012, must provide a minimum of 67 square inches of floor space per hen for White Leghorns, and 76 square inches of floor space per hen for Brown Egg Layers;
(b) Any enclosure constructed or acquired on or after January 1, 2012, must meet standards equivalent to the requirements for certification of enriched colony facility systems established in the American Humane Association’s (AHA) farm animal welfare certification program, with no enclosure providing less than 116.3 square inches of floor space per hen, including nest, and not less than 17.7 inches of height.
(c) No less than 65% of all enclosures on a commercial egg-laying farm should meet standards equivalent to the requirements for certification of enriched colony facility systems established in the American Humane Association’s (AHA) farm animal welfare certification program (116.3 square inches of floor space per hen, including nest, and not less than 17.7 inches of height.)
(4) Effective January 1, 2026: All enclosures on a commercial egg-laying farm must meet AHA standards, with no enclosure providing less than 116.3 square inches of floor space per hen, including nest, and no enclosure providing less than 17.7 inches of height.

Source: Rule 603-018-0005 — Poultry Husbandry, Cage Size Standards for Egg Laying Hens, https://secure.­sos.­state.­or.­us/oard/view.­action?ruleNumber=603-018-0005.

Last Updated

Jun. 8, 2021

Rule 603-018-0005’s source at or​.us