Whole BCSPA certified birds from Rossdown Farms - $4.99lb

 These chickens are between 3-3.4lbs each. You pay $14.99 now and anything extra can be paid in cash at the depot (will be $2 or less extra)

The standards incorporate current research in animal welfare science with practical protocols, as developed by an expert panel of animal welfare scientists, veterinarians, and farmers in consultation with the BC SPCA.

Evidence-based, welfare focused

While we acknowledge that it is not possible to prevent animals from experiencing all pain or discomfort in their lives, our Standards strive to provide animals with the following Five Freedoms, which are derived from those first described by the Farm Animal Welfare Council of the U.K.:

Key components of the Standards

• Egg-laying hens are free from cages;

• Pregnant pigs are free from confinement in gestation stalls;

• Dairy calves are provided with pain control during horn bud removal;

• Dairy cows are not tail docked;

• Lameness in farm animals is assessed and addressed;

• Animal environments are designed to promote natural behaviours and healthy social interactions;

• Animals are not fed antibiotics for growth enhancement.

Developed standards include: egg-laying hens, broiler (meat) chickens, turkeys, dairy cattle, beef cattle, pigs and sheep.

Comparison

SPCA Certified standards exceed the generally accepted practices for raising farm animals in Canada.

Conventional Practices

The standards are intended to complement the Recommended Codes of Practice for the Care and Handling of Farm Animals, originally developed by the Canadian Agri-Food Research Council, and now overseen by the National Farm Animal Care Council.  All program members are required to follow federal and provincial law related to environmental and food safety practices.

Canadian Organic Standards

The BC SPCA recognizes that farm animal welfare is an issue the organic industry has always taken very seriously.  While there are differences between the standards, the Canadian Organic Standards compliment SPCA Certified standards.

The BC SPCA supports the organic standards and continues to engage in collaborative efforts with organic associations across Canada.

Learn more about SPCA Certified standards in comparison to Canadian Organic Standards and the Codes of Practice.