Effects of perch on feed consumption and behaviour of caged laying hens

Valkonen, Eija; Rinne, Reine; Valaja, Jarmo

doi:10.23986/afsci.5964

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Perch use in this study (around 5% of hens observed perching at the time of visit, Table 1 ) was lower than a previously reported daytime perch use of 10% [ 20 ] or even higher values (> 25%) reported for example by Valkonen et al [ 21 ] and Barnett et al [ 22 ]. This could be related to less accurate recording (a single time point per day) vs the continuous monitoring that was used in some of the other studies and also due to the specific pen design.…”

Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 75%

Heritability of perching behavior and its genetic relationship with incidence of floor eggs in Rhode Island Red chickens

et al. 2021

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Background As cage-free production systems become increasingly popular, behavioral traits such as nesting behavior and temperament have become more important. The objective of this study was to estimate heritabilities for frequency of perching and proportion of floor eggs and their genetic correlation in two Rhode Island Red lines. Results The percent of hens observed perching tended to increase and the proportion of eggs laid on the floor tended to decrease as the test progressed. This suggests the ability of hens to learn to use nests and perches. Under the bivariate repeatability model, estimates of heritability in the two lines were 0.22 ± 0.04 and 0.07 ± 0.05 for the percent of hens perching, and 0.52 ± 0.05 and 0.45 ± 0.05 for the percent of floor eggs. Estimates of the genetic correlation between perching and floor eggs were − 0.26 ± 0.14 and − 0.19 ± 0.27 for the two lines, suggesting that, genetically, there was some tendency for hens that better use perches to also use nests; but the phenotypic correlation was close to zero. Random regression models indicated the presence of a genetic component for learning ability. Conclusions In conclusion, perching and tendency to lay floor eggs were shown to be a learned behavior, which stresses the importance of proper management and training of pullets and young hens. A significant genetic component was found, confirming the possibility to improve nesting behavior for cage-free systems through genetic selection.

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Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 75%

Heritability of perching behavior and its genetic relationship with incidence of floor eggs in Rhode Island Red chickens

et al. 2021

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“…Perch utilization during the light period observed in this study (10% of the light period at 9 WPE) was much lower than that reported in earlier studies (ranging between 25-50%). Tauson (1984) reported hens perching 25-50% of the daytime, while others reported hens spending about 25% of the daytime on perches (Appleby et al, 1992;Valkonen et al, 2009). Yet, some studies reported that hens spent about 32-38% of the daytime on perches (Newberry et al, 2001;Barnett et al, 2009).…”

Section: Diurnal and Temporal Perching Behavior Of Laying Hensmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perch-shape preference and perching behaviors of young laying hens

Liu

Xin

Shepherd

et al. 2018

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

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Provision of perches in enriched colony or cage-free hen housing facilitates birds' ability to express natural behaviors, thus enhancing animal welfare. Although considerable research has been conducted on poultry perches, further investigation is needed of perching behavior and preference of laying hens to perch exposure and perch types. This study aimed to assess preference of young laying hens for round vs. hexagon perches and to characterize temporal perching behaviors of the young hens brought to an enriched colony setting from a cage pullet-rearing environment. A total of 42 Lohmann white hens in six equal groups, 17 weeks of age at the onset of the experiment, were used in the study. Each group of hens was housed in a wire-mesh floor pen equipped with two 120 cm long perches (one round perch at 3.2 cm dia. and one hexagon perch at 3.1 cm circumscribed dia., placed 40 cm apart and 30 cm above the floor). Each group was monitored continuously for 9 weeks. Perching behaviors during the monitoring period, including perching time, perch visit, and perching bird number, were recorded and analyzed daily using an automated perching monitoring system. Results revealed that the laying hens showed no preference between the round and hexagon perches (P = 0.59-0.98). Young laying hens without prior perching experience showed increasing use of perches over time (P < 0.01). It took up to five to seven weeks of perch exposure for young hens to show consistent perching behaviors in the enriched colony setting. This study also found that laying hens spent about 10% of daytime on the perches and over 75% of hens perched at night after approaching consistent perching behaviors. In general, the results supplemented to the existing knowledge base for the quantitative behavior study on laying hens' temporal perch use.

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Welfare and performance in layers following temporary exclusion from the litter area on introduction to the layer facility

et al. 2015

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When introduced to the laying facility, pullets are sometimes temporarily excluded from the litter area in order to help them locate food and water, and to prevent floor-laid eggs. This procedure is not permitted in Sweden, because it involves denying access to both litter and space, which may have a negative effect on bird welfare. The present study investigated how the welfare and performance of layers were affected by this temporary exclusion on introduction of hens to the laying facility. The study included 600 floor-reared Dekalb White layers obtained at 16 wk age and housed in 6 groups of 100 in a conventional single-tier floor-laying system. Birds were either given full access to the litter area during the whole study or were excluded from the litter area during the first 2 wk after transfer to the laying facility. From 18 to 72 wk age, birds in both treatments had full access to the litter area. Excluding birds from the litter area for 2 wk resulted in better feather cover and reduced fearfulness, according to novel object and tonic immobility tests. Furthermore, birds initially excluded from the litter area produced eggs with a lower proportion of shell irregularities than birds with full access to the litter area throughout. No difference was found in corticosterone metabolites in droppings rate of lay, mortality, or proportion of floor-laid eggs. In conclusion, none of the parameters studied indicated that the welfare of laying hens was compromised by temporary exclusion from the litter area on introduction to the laying facility. In fact, some of the data suggested that bird welfare had improved.

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Effects of perch on feed consumption and behaviour of caged laying hens

Cited by 3 publications

References 25 publications

Heritability of perching behavior and its genetic relationship with incidence of floor eggs in Rhode Island Red chickens

Heritability of perching behavior and its genetic relationship with incidence of floor eggs in Rhode Island Red chickens

Perch-shape preference and perching behaviors of young laying hens

Welfare and performance in layers following temporary exclusion from the litter area on introduction to the layer facility

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