Welfare aspects of the perchery systea of housing for laying hens

1993 ◽  
Vol 1993 ◽  
pp. 68-68
Author(s):  
D M Alvey ◽  
S A Tucker
Keyword(s):  
Feed Intake ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Public Concern ◽  
Feather Pecking ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Alternative Systems ◽  
Current Alternative ◽  
High Feed ◽  
Battery Cages

There is continuing public concern about the welfare of poultry kept in battery cages. However, current alternative systems would be unsuitable to fill the gap if cages were to be banned. Many welfare problems have been encountered with alternative systems. These include feather pecking, cannibalism, poor foot condition, bone breakage, poor production, high feed intake and floor egg laying. In 4 studies, between 1988 and 1992, the effect of the Gleadthorpe design of perchery on the performance, behaviour and welfare of laying hens was evaluated.The perchery consisted of 2 perch units constructed on wooden slatted platforms over a droppings pit. A block of 5 tier high nestboxes was provided along each side of the perchery. The nestboxes were of a rear roll-away type and contained “Astroturf” nest pads. Litter areas were available between the 2 perch units and between the perch units and the blocks of nest boxes.

scholarly journals An Investigation of Associations Between Management and Feather Damage in Canadian Laying Hens Housed in Furnished Cages

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caitlin Decina ◽  
Olaf Berke ◽  
Nienke van Staaveren ◽  
Christine Baes ◽  
Tina Widowski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Linear Regression ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Feather Pecking ◽  
Alternative Housing ◽  
Housing Systems ◽  
Alternative Systems ◽  
Linear Regression Modeling

Feather pecking is a continuous welfare challenge in the housing of egg-laying hens. Canada is currently making the transition from conventional cages to alternative housing systems. However, feather damage (FD) among laying hens due to feather pecking remains a welfare concern. An explorative approach was taken to assess bird, housing, and management associations with FD in Canadian laying hens housed in alternative systems. A questionnaire focused on housing and management practices was administered to 122 laying farms across Canada in autumn of 2017 (response rate of 52.5%), yielding information on a subset of 26 flocks housed in furnished cages. Additionally, a three-point feather cover scoring system was developed to estimate the prevalence of FD. Farmers assessed FD by sampling 50 birds per flock. Linear regression modeling was applied to explain FD as a function of 6 variables (out of an available 54). Of the 6 modeled variables, “increased age”, “brown feather colour”, “midnight feeding”, and “no scratch area” were associated with higher levels of FD at farm level (R2 = 0.77). The results indicated that FD resulting from feather pecking is a multifactorial problem, and supported existing evidence that FD increases as birds age. These results also suggested that “feather colour”, “midnight feeding”, and “access to (or lack of) a scratch area or additional substrate” play a role in FD prevalence in furnished cages.

scholarly journals A simple way to reduce heat stress in laying hens as judged by egg laying, body weight gain and biochemical parameters

2001 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 421-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Şahin ◽  
O. Küçük
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Body Weight Gain ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase ◽  
Feed Withdrawal

This study was designed to test the effects of feed withdrawal and darkening on the performance, triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and some blood serum metabolite and mineral concentrations of laying hens reared at high ambient temperatures ranging from 25 to 35 °C. Ninety, 16-week-old hens (Ross Brown) were divided into 3 groups, 30 hens each. The first group was used as control. Hens in the second group (feed withdrawal) were subjected to feed removal from 14:00 to 18:00, and hens in the third group (darkening) were subjected to light restriction from 14:00 to 18:00 using black curtains. Liveweight, feed intake, and egg production were higher (P < 0.01) in the feed withdrawal and darkening groups, particularly in the darkening group, than in the control. Water intake was higher in the control group compared with the feed withdrawal and darkening groups (P < 0.01). T3, T4, and TSH concentrations in the serum were higher (P < 0.01), whereas ACTH serum concentration was lower (P < 0.01) in the feed withdrawal and darkening groups compared with the control. The haematocrit was higher in the feed withdrawal and darkening groups compared with the control (P < 0.01). Darkening and feed withdrawal treatments increased serum glucose, urea-N, uric acid, albumin, triglyceride, cholesterol, Ca, P, Na, and K concentrations, also the activities of amylase and alkaline phosphatase, but did not influence the activities of serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT). The present study found that feed withdrawal and darkening, particularly darkening, at high temperatures during the summer months offer a good management practice to reduce heat stress related depression in feed intake and egg production in laying hens.

Providing laying hens in group-housed enriched cages with access to barley silage reduces aggressive and feather-pecking behaviour

2016 ◽  
Vol 96 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.G. Johannson ◽  
C. Raginski ◽  
K. Schwean-Lardner ◽  
H.L. Classen
Keyword(s):  
Egg Production ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Egg Quality ◽  
Free Access ◽  
Feather Pecking ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Barley Silage ◽  
Effect Of Feeding ◽  
Bird Weight

Two trials were conducted to study the effect of feeding barley silage on the behaviour and performance of beak-trimmed laying hens. In each trial, 20 hens and 2 roosters were housed in each of eight group-housed enriched cages, with four cages provided a laying hen diet and four cages additionally given free access to barley silage. Egg production and quality, and hen behaviour were assessed throughout the trials (Trial One 20–30 weeks; Trial Two 19–28 weeks). Data were analysed using Proc Mixed of SAS 9.4 and differences were significant when P ≤ 0.05. Silage-fed hens consumed 41 (13.9 g DM) and 50 (13.5 g DM) grams of silage per hen per day in Trials One and Two, respectively, while consuming less layer diet. Birds fed silage spent less time expressing aggressive and feather-pecking behaviours and in nest boxes, and more time feeding than control birds. Egg production, egg quality, and bird weight were not affected by treatment; yolk colour was darker for the silage treatment. Feathering quality was improved in silage-fed birds compared to control birds. It was concluded that providing hens with access to barley silage can improve welfare indicators without negatively affecting the egg production and egg quality.

scholarly journals Effect of Addition of Selenium-Enriched Bean Sprouts Powder in Egg Laying Hen Feed

2021 ◽  
pp. 121-128
Author(s):  
Myongdok Im ◽  
Hakchan Oh ◽  
Yongchol Ri ◽  
Kuangchol Kim ◽  
Dongchol Jong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Production Process ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Selenium Content ◽  
Egg Weight ◽  
Organic Selenium ◽  
Laying Performance ◽  
Bean Sprouts

Although selenium was considered an essential trace element in the early 1970s, it is now widely used as a biological effect, and research projects are also actively underway. In the production process of selenium-enriched eggs that can meet people's demand for selenium, this article specifically analyzed the effects of different levels of selenium-enriched bean sprouts powder on the laying performance and egg quality of laying hens. First of all, adding selenium-enriched bean sprouts powder(a kind of organic selenium) to the basal diet fed for a long time(20weeks) will affect the egg laying rate and feed intake, egg weight, egg shape index, and eggshell strength, thickness of eggshell. Next, we analyzed the accumulation of selenium in eggs, breast muscles, liver, skin and kidneys after feeding organic selenium. Results when 15~22.5g/kg selenium-enriched bean sprouts powder(selenium content 40mg/kg) was added to the basal diet fed, the egg laying rate, feed intake, egg weight, eggshell strength and eggshell thickness respectively increased by 100.6~102.9%, 101.3~102.3%, 117.1~117.6% and 105.6~108.3%, and the selenium content in eggs increased by 197.7~206.9%. Selenium is obviously deposited on the eggs, breast muscles and skin of laying hens. Therefore, in the production process of selenium-enriched eggs, adding selenium-enriched bean sprouts powder not only increased the production efficiency of eggs, but also increased double the selenium content in eggs. From the 15th day of the laying test, selenium-enriched eggs can be obtained.

scholarly journals Gradual Provision of Live Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Larvae to Older Laying Hens: Effect on Production Performance, Egg Quality, Feather Condition and Behavior

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Star ◽  
Tarique Arsiwalla ◽  
Francesc Molist ◽  
Raymond Leushuis ◽  
Monika Dalim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Laying Hens ◽  
Egg Quality ◽  
Body Weight Gain ◽  
Video Recording ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Production Performance ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Hermetia Illucens ◽  
Feather Pecking ◽  
Hermetia Illucens Larvae

Feather pecking is a key welfare challenge in laying hen husbandry. Feeding of live Hermetia illucens larvae could provide a possible solution to reduce feather pecking in hens. This research investigates effects of dispensing live H. illucens larvae to non-beak trimmed older laying hens on production performance, behavior and welfare. Control treatment hens were provided a commercial diet, while larvae treatment hens were provided live H. illucens larvae (using special dispenser) on top of a soy-free diet. Feather condition, production performance and egg quality were measured during the initiation (67 weeks age) and termination (78 weeks age) of the trial. Behavior of birds was monitored using video recording. Feed conversion ratio, body weight gain and egg laying parameters were similar for both treatments. At termination of the trial, larvae-fed hens exhibited better feather condition in comparison to control hens (p = 0.004). Behavioral observations indicated that larvae provision influenced the number of birds on floor during morning and afternoon hours. In conclusion, live H. illucens larvae could successfully replace soy in diets of older laying hens (in combination with local plant proteins). Provisioning of these insects also had a positive effect on the feather condition of laying hens with intact beaks.

The behaviour of laying hens housed in the perchery system

1994 ◽  
Vol 1994 ◽  
pp. 172-172
Author(s):  
A Gebreyes ◽  
W Michie ◽  
A M Petchey
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Stocking Density ◽  
Capital Costs ◽  
Freedom Of Movement ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
System A ◽  
Use Of Resources ◽  
Battery Cages ◽  
Environmental Temperatures

The perchery (barn) design for laying hens utilises the vertical space within a building which is occupied by the perches, slatted sections with feeders and drinkers all at several levels. There are also dust bathing areas and roll-away nest boxes. This arrangement allows the stocking density to be increased to 17 birds/m2. Consequently, capital costs are reduced and optimum environmental temperatures can be achieved. These two considerations give this system a marked advantage when compared with a deep litter system. The perchery system also gives the hens freedom of movement and allows them to exhibit their natural behaviours, such as wing stretching, dust bathing and nesting. Thereby, overcoming the objections made to housing hens in battery cages. This study was done to determine the use of resources within the perchery by laying hens and to compare their body condition at the end of the laying period.

The importance of pre-laying behaviour and nest boxes for laying hen welfare: a review

2012 ◽  
Vol 52 (7) ◽  
pp. 398 ◽  
Author(s):  
Greg M. Cronin ◽  
the late John L. Barnett ◽  
Paul H. Hemsworth
Keyword(s):  
Laying Hens ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Plasma Corticosterone ◽  
Laying Hen ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Nest Box ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Physiological Stress Response

The housing of commercial laying hens in conventional cages is one of the most contentious animal welfare issues in animal production in Australia and other developed countries. The main issues are restriction of space and opportunity to perform ‘natural’ behaviours such as pre-laying behaviour, dust bathing and roosting. The provision of a nest box is argued by some to be essential for laying hen welfare. While the majority of hens (at least 70%) will lay in a nest box if provided, neither the lack of a nest box nor the sudden denial of access to a nest box, result in adverse welfare based on physiological stress response measured via corticosterone concentrations in either plasma or egg albumen. However, recent research suggests that hens that spent more time sitting during the 2 h before egg laying had lower plasma corticosterone concentrations, when sampled ~4–5 h post-egg laying. On the other hand, hens that displayed more bouts of sitting before egg laying, perhaps suggesting they were more frequently disturbed and thus less settled, had higher corticosterone concentrations. One function of nest boxes might be to provide those hens that choose to lay there with a location where they are less disturbed before egg laying. Further research on the effects of pre-laying behaviour and nest site selection on physiological stress in laying hens may provide important information regarding how to house commercial laying hens for good welfare.

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