New concerns have been raised about the future capacity of the UK egg sector after the NFU revealed high reliance on aging infrastructure, with construction of new chicken houses collapsing by 40%.
According to the union’s first housing survey for the egg sector, nearly one in five egg-laying sheds is now over 25 years old, while investment in new buildings has slowed sharply in recent years.
Just 120 new sheds were built between 2020 and 2025, down from 206 in the previous five years.
If this trend continues, domestic egg production may find it difficult to keep up with growing consumer demand for affordable, high-quality protein, the NFU warns.
The study was modeled on previous broiler shed studies, collecting data from members on construction dates, production systems, renovations, regional distribution, and more, covering 1,271 sheds with a capacity for 23 million birds.
It found that the average age of laying hens in the UK is 17 years old.
By region, the average lifespan of a shed is nine years in Wales, 12 years in Scotland, 18 years in Northern Ireland and 19 years in England.
Overall, 19% of nesting sheds are over 25 years old and one in five has undergone major renovation.
Puppy raising and breeding units are still quite old.
The average age of a chick house is 38 years, with more than half built over 40 years ago.
The average lifespan of a breeding shed is 37 years, and 51% were built more than 40 years ago.
By comparison, multi-story systems are relatively modern, averaging 12 years, while full colony sheds average 27 years, and flat deck systems average 22 years.
Older buildings are less efficient, more expensive to maintain, and harder to adapt to changing welfare and environmental standards, putting additional pressure on reinvestment decisions.
Will Roe, chair of the NFU Poultry Committee, said: “This study provides the clearest picture yet of the current state of the UK’s egg production infrastructure and shows which sectors need the right tools and confidence in investment.”
He said producers had endured an “extremely difficult few years” and warned that the slowdown in new housing development was “a red flag that cannot be ignored”.
“Farmers want to modernize, expand and future-proof their operations,” he said, but added that they need “planning systems that work and supply chains that deliver fair and sustainable returns.”
The NFU claims slow planning processes and a lack of confidence in long-term returns are barriers to new investment.
Without reform, the pace of reinvestment could fall further below demand, increasing pressure on domestic supply.
The research was carried out between May and June 2025, when the UK’s egg-laying hens numbered around 43 million.
The union said the findings strengthened the case for viable planning systems and fair, functioning supply chains that give producers the confidence to invest in modern, efficient infrastructure and support a resilient egg sector.
