The British Hen Welfare Trust (BHWT) and British Free Range Egg Producers Association (BFREPA) are launching a new awareness campaign to encourage consumers to eat a range of egg sizes to benefit hen welfare.

The BHWT, which has rehomed over 800,000 commercial laying hens since it was established in 2005, says consumers have little or no idea that eating a range of egg sizes benefits hen welfare and making a small change to shopping habits and recipes can make a big impact.

More than 13 billion eggs are eaten in Britain every year and BFREPA says shoppers prefer to buy large or very large eggs rather than medium or mixed weight boxes, despite the fact hens naturally lay a range of egg sizes.

Jane Howorth, founder of the BHWT said: “Eating a range of egg sizes is an easy way for consumers to support the best possible welfare for hens. There are more than 40 million laying hens across Britain who will thank you for it. “If shoppers only want large eggs, then those hens are being asked to work harder, rather than just allowing them to do what comes naturally.”

Medium eggs are just as nutritious and tasty as large or very large eggs but a lack of demand sees them used primarily in processed food such as sandwich fillings, cakes and sauces. And the main difference between a medium and large egg is in the amount of white – the yolk size is broadly the same.

Physiological factors such as bird genetics, age, feed and pullet quality, as well as environmental factors such as lighting and temperature, all impact egg size and can be adjusted to deliver the desired result. You can download our ebook on the variables influencing egg size and how to balance bird welfare with the public’s taste for large eggs, by clicking here.

If you would like to find out more about how we can supply a nutritionally balanced feed for your flock, keep your birds healthy and optimise egg size, please email us at enquiries@hfandp.co.uk or call us on 01962 764555.