This study's aim was to investigate the effects of age, light source type (light-emitting diode (LED), and compact fluorescent (FLO)), and cage tier on production performance and egg quality traits of layers reared in the enriched cage system. A total of 800 Nick Chick White layers were used in the study. A total of 800 eggs were used for egg quality traits at 25 and 45 weeks of age. The enriched cage tiers were coded as I, II, III, and IV from bottom to top. Layer age significantly affected egg mass, hen-day egg production rate, hen-house egg production rate, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, damaged egg ratio (P < 0.05), egg weight, shape index, shell thickness, albumen weight, yolk weight, shell weight, yolk color index, albumen ratio, yolk ratio, and shell ratio (P < 0.001). The higher egg mass, egg weight, albumen weight, yolk weight, shell thickness (P < 0.001), dirty egg ratio (P < 0.01), and lower FCR, yolk color index (P < 0.01), shell ratio (P < 0.01) were found in the FLO group when compared to the LED group (P < 0.05). Highest body weight was found in cage tier I at 45 weeks of age (P < 0.001). Level of cage tier significantly affected 50% egg production age, egg mass, henday egg production rate, hen-house egg production rate, and dirty egg ratio (P < 0.01). Level of cage tier significantly affected 5% egg production age, FCR, and shape index (P < 0.05). It can be concluded that the hens in the FLO group were better than the LED group in terms of some production and egg quality traits.

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of lighting type [light-emitting diode (LED) and compact fluorescent (FLO) light] and cage tier on welfare traits such as feather score, body and comb wounds, bumble foot and footpad dermatitis, beak damage, keel bone deformity, finger damage, aggressive pecking behavior, and the avoidance distance test (ADT) in laying hens reared in an enriched cage system. A total of 400 layers were used to determine these traits at 25 and 45 weeks of age. A total of 80 layers were used to determine tonic immobility (TI) duration and induction number. The dust accumulation rate (DAR I and DAR II) was recorded to determine the activity of layers under different lighting sources at 25, 35, and 45 weeks of age. The highest DAR I and DAR II were determined in the FLO group at 35 and 45 weeks of age (P < 0.05). The worst comb wound and highest ADT were found in the FLO group at 25 weeks of age (P < 0.05). In the FLO group the mean feather score, comb wound, and finger damage were worse than in the LED group (P < 0.01). In addition, aggressive pecking behavior (P < 0.01) was observed more in the FLO group at 45 weeks of age (P < 0.05). The breast and vent feather scores (P < 0.001), mean body feather score, comb wound, and footpad dermatitis of hens at 45 weeks of age (P < 0.05) were worse in lower cage tiers. In conclusion, using LED light in poultry houses helps to increase some of the welfare parameters. Cage tier significantly affects the welfare parameters, and this effect is clearer around 45 weeks of age in layers.