A request by the Agriculture Ministry to postpone enactment of requirements to require minimum space standards for chickens for 10 years was rejected by the Knesset Education Committee, which is also in charge of matters relating to the welfare of animals. Education Minister Gilad Erdan led the opposition in the government to instituting the changes, which will require farmers to ensure that chickens have a specific amount of space to move about in, as well as proper lighting and feeding facilities.
“The current coops do not allow chickens to move around at all,” MK Dov Hanin said during the discussion. “If that is not animal cruelty, I don't know what is.”