McHens win bigger cages

The chain has come under fire over its policies

By Jonny Dymond in Washington

Global fast food giant McDonalds has told its egg farmers in the United States to adopt new regulations on chicken welfare.

Millions of battery birds in the US are now likely to get a little more living room.

McDonalds has for some time been the target of animal welfare groups - and so it has responded by ordering its suppliers to make a variety of changes to the way they treat their animals.

Living room

Currently the chickens which supply McDonalds eggs must have just over 300 square centimetres - approximately the size of a standard piece of office paper.

Battery hens will also be spared "forced moulting"

The company has told its farmers that they must give chickens 460 sq cm.

It has also banned the feeding practice known as "forced moulting" - denying chickens food and water for up to two weeks.

The regime is already prohibited in the European Union where it has been linked with a heightened incidence of salmonella bacteria.

The change to the size of chicken cages will, says McDonalds, enable birds to lie down.

Animal rights campaigners, whilst welcoming the changes, point out that the chickens will still not be able to stretch their wings fully.