An online survey was distributed via the mailing list of a UK free-range egg brand receiving 6,378 responses. The survey was mostly five-point Likert-scale based. The same survey was also distributed to a group of animal welfare specialists receiving 34 responses. Findings Respondents bought free-range eggs because hens are 'happier' (74.2%) and 'healthier' (69.0%) and because they believed such eggs to taste better (57.9%). They rated all the suggested factors that might contribute to hen welfare as 'important' or 'very important' (on average) but believed outside access and fresh air to be most important. Respondents rated the suitability of resources relating to behavioural needs high ('suitable' or 'very suitable') indoors and shelter as the most suitable outdoors. Consumers differed from welfare specialists in their views on factors contributing to hen welfare, but their views on resource suitability were similar. Research limitations/implications The sample was biased towards free-range egg consumers who had expressed an interest in a brand marketed as high welfare. Originality/value This is the first study to ask consumers what they consider to be important for hen welfare and how they think hen welfare can be improved. Because consumers can affect on-farm welfare through their purchasing habits assessing the degree of agreement between consumers and animal welfare specialists is important.

Summary: 10Many studies have assessed use of the outdoor 'range' area on free-range laying farms. 11Collated data reveal that percentage range use at any one time rarely exceeds 50% and is

No abstract

The effect of a resource package designed to reduce inter-bird pecking and increase range use was tested on fourteen free-range farms in the UK. The package comprised two types of objects intended to attract pecking behaviour: 'pecking pans' containing a particulate pecking block, and wind chimes; plus long, narrow shelters placed just outside the popholes, bridging a barren area 2-10m from the house, with the aim of improving bird distribution on the range. We predicted that if the resource package succeeded in these aims, overall bird welfare would also be improved. Fourteen commercial farms were enrolled for this two-year study. Flocks were assessed for pecking behaviour, range use and general indicators of welfare at 40 weeks in Year 1 without the resource package. The resource package was then added to the same houses at the start of the next flock cycle in Year 2. The new flocks were assessed in the same way at 40 weeks with additional observations taken of their use of the resource package at 25 and 40 weeks. These additional observations showed that most aspects of pecking behaviour directed at the pecking pans remained consistent from 25 to 40 weeks although a reduction in substrate pecking frequency was seen (p<0.001) and birds perched on the pan for longer (p=0.033) and more often (p=0.010) at 40 weeks. Although consistent within houses, wind chime use was very variable between houses, with pecking observed in only 8 of the 14 houses. The number of birds under the shelters increased from 25 to 40 weeks (p=0.018), as did the proportion of birds that went under a shelter within 5 minutes of entering the range area (p=0.021). Birds were more likely to use a shelter within 5 minutes if they exited the shed via a pophole within 10m of the shelter rather than a pophole more than 10m away at both 25 weeks (p<0.001) and 40 weeks (p=0.001). A reduction in gentle feather pecking (p=0.001) and severe feather pecking (p=0.018) behaviour was seen when the resource package was provided in Year 2. Range distribution also improved, with a greater proportion of birds seen 2-10m from the house (p=0.023). Additionally, the proportion of abnormal eggs (p=0.010), headshaking behaviour (p=0.009) and the percentage of wet/capped litter (p=0.043) decreased in Year 2.

In commercial situations, laying hens must negotiate levels to reach resources such as food, water and litter. Providing ramps in aviary systems reduces collisions and resultant keel bone fractures in adults. We investigated whether providing ramps during rear improved the ability of birds to transition between levels. Chicks were reared commercially in two flocks both of which provided access to raised structures from three weeks of age. One flock had no ramps, but the other flock was provided with additional access to two types of ramp (wooden ladders, and grids formed from commercial poultry slats placed at an angle). At 8 weeks of age, 64 birds (32 from each rearing condition) were transferred to an experimental facility. At 10 weeks of age, 32 pullets from each group were trained to run to a food reward. During testing at 12-14 weeks of age the pullets accessed the food reward by moving up or down a ramp. The pullets' behaviours and time taken to complete the task were recorded. Ramp use over three days was also observed in a room replicating a small-scale single-tier system. Four groups of 16 birds aged 12-14 weeks were housed for three days and the number of transitions between the raised tier and litter were recorded. For upward transitions, more ramp-reared birds than control birds succeeded in reaching the food reward for both ladder (52 % vs 13%) and grid (74% vs 42%). Birds from the ramp-reared group took significantly less time to complete an upwards transition (68.8s±49.3) than the control group (100s±37.6) (p=0.001). In addition, the control group showed more behaviours indicative of hesitancy (moving away, head orientations, ground pecking and crouching) before transitioning, and signs of difficulty when making upward transitions (crouched walks, pauses, turning, returning and escape attempts). In the group housing observations, the ramp reared groups had almost double the number of transitions between the slats and litter on day one compared to the control group. This difference was reduced by day three. In summary, this suggests there are positive effects of providing ramp experience during rear shown by increased mobility and apparent confidence in older pullets. It is not known whether these benefits persist through to the laying period, but no detrimental effects were noted so we suggest that ramps should be included from the early rearing period onwards.