New challenges are emerging in the UK egg sector as supply chain and planning issues begin to take a toll, according to the inaugural UK-wide layer hen housing survey.
This detailed survey, conducted by the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), highlights the sector’s dependency on aging infrastructure and reveals a significant slowdown in new construction projects for layer hen, pullet rearing, and breeding sheds.
Insights from the Survey
The survey, conducted during May and June of 2025, gathered insights from 1,271 sheds with a combined capacity for 23 million birds. Key findings include:
- The average age of laying hen sheds in the UK is 17 years.
- Nearly 19% of these sheds exceed 25 years in age.
- 20% of operational sheds have undergone major refurbishments (excluding multi-tier conversions).
- Multi-tier systems host an average of 18,747 hens, while flat deck sheds accommodate 9,323 hens.
- Wales boasts the youngest shed age at 9 years, with England trailing at an average of 19 years.
Within the free-range sector, multi-tier systems dominate, comprising 56% of sheds and housing 73% of laying hens. Flat-deck systems, accounting for 42% of sheds, have an average age of 22 years, while only 2% of total sheds are mobile units, which house a mere 0.3% of hens.
Decline in Layer Shed Construction
The height of construction activity for layer sheds was observed between 2016 and 2020, during which 206 new sheds were established, with a combined capacity of 3.45 million hens. However, the past five years have seen a drastic drop, with only 120 sheds constructed—a 40% decrease. This downturn correlates with challenging market conditions, including low return rates that have forced some farmers to exit the industry.
This situation is further compounded by increasingly stringent planning regulations, particularly in sensitive water catchment areas, that hinder new projects.
Ageing Infrastructure for Pullet Rearing and Breeding
- The average age of pullet rearing sheds stands at 38 years, with 55% over 40 years old.
- 22% of these sheds have seen refurbishment within the last 11 years.
- Breeder sheds average 37 years in age, with a significant proportion built over 40 years ago.
- 52% of breeder sheds have been refurbished, with an average of 24 years since their last major update.
- England’s pullet rearing and breeding sheds are the oldest in the UK, averaging 40 and 39 years, respectively.
From 2020 to 2025, construction for new buildings declined by 40% compared to the previous five years, raising concerns about the UK’s capability to meet increasing consumer demands for quality egg production.
Need for Investment and Modernization
Will Raw, chair of the NFU poultry board, emphasized the importance of having the right tools and confidence to invest: “UK egg producers have endured exceptionally challenging years. While demand for British eggs remains strong, the decline in new housing developments represents a serious concern.”
“Farmers aim to modernize, expand, and future-proof their operations; however, they require a functional planning system along with a supply chain that ensures fair, sustainable profits,” Raw stated. “This data reinforces our argument for necessary changes and supports responsible expansions in the sector, vital for catering to the public’s increasing desire for high-quality, affordable protein sources.”
