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The reaction of brown and white hens to enriched cages

The reaction of brown and white hens to enriched cages. V Sandilands 1 , L Baker 1 , S Brocklehurst 2 SAC 1 , BioSS 2. Introduction. The majority of hens (~80%) in the EU are housed in cages

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The reaction of brown and white hens to enriched cages

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  1. The reaction of brown and white hens to enriched cages V Sandilands1, L Baker1, S Brocklehurst2 SAC1, BioSS2

  2. Introduction • The majority of hens (~80%) in the EU are housed in cages • The ban on conventional cages (99/74/EC) means that hens will have to be housed in alternative systems from 2012 • One alternative is the enriched cage • nest box - scratch mat • perches - greater space

  3. Introduction • In addition, in the UK, routine beak trimming is due to be banned from 2011 • The combined effects of a relatively novel housing system and intact beaks on hen production and welfare are still unknown • Furthermore, different bird strains may react differently

  4. Aim • To investigate • the welfare of brown and white non-beak trimmed hens in various designs and colony sizes of enriched cages

  5. Methods • 2 cage designs (A,B) x 3 colony sizes (20, 40, and 80) x 2 bird strains (white, brown) • Data collected over 2 flocks: • daily egg production and nest box use • feather scores (as an indicator of feather pecking) at 36, 56, 72 weeks of age • claw length (as in indicator of the efficacy of claw shortening devices) at depopulation • mortality • Data analysed by LMM or GLMM

  6. Methods • 72 cages, 36 per cage design Perches

  7. Methods • 72 cages, 36 per cage design Auger tube

  8. Methods • 72 cages, 36 per cage design Barriers

  9. Methods • 72 cages, 36 per cage design Food troughs

  10. Methods • 72 cages, 36 per cage design Scratch mats: 97 cm2 versus 78 cm2 per hen

  11. Methods • 72 cages, 36 per cage design Nest boxes: 97 cm2 versus 78 cm2 per hen

  12. Methods • Claw shortening device B: 44 cm2 per hen A: 3.75 cm2 per hen

  13. Results • Nest box use Brown hens better nest box users (83%) than white hens (64%) Thin line = A Thick line = B Brown hens White hens

  14. Results • Nest box use Brown hens prefer nest box from cage type B over A Thin line = A Thick line = B Brown hens White hens

  15. Results • Nest box use Whereas white hens prefer nest box A over B Thin line = A Thick line = B Brown hens White hens

  16. Results • Feather condition • Worse with Brown (1.7) than White (1.1) birds (SED 0.065) (P<0.001) • Worse with increasing age (P<0.001, SED=0.054-0.080)

  17. Results • Claw length (cm) • White hens unaffected by design/size • Brown hens shorter claws with cage type B

  18. Results • Mortality • Total of 6.8%, 30% due to pecking/cannibalism • Brown hens (5.8%) > White (5.5%) (P=0.048) • Particularly true for certain categories:

  19. Conclusions • Brown hens possibly preferred the enclosed, smaller space of nest box B, whereas white hens preferred greater space of A • Scratch mat and nest box design in A were similar - this can reduce nest eggs • White birds’ claws grow faster than brown hens’. Uncertain whether the type of shortener, or the size, was relevant with brown hens.

  20. Conclusions • Intact beaks affected mortality and feather pecking. This will need careful management, by stimulating oral behaviours at the scratch mats and feed • White hens had better plumage condition at all ages. The lack of colour contrast between intact and pecked feathers may be an advantage to white birds • White birds, although flighty with people, were robust under trial conditions

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