Perch Positioning Affects both Laying Hen Locomotion and Forces Experienced at the Keel

Rufener, Christina; Rentsch, Ana K.; Stratmann, Ariane; Toscano, Michael J.

doi:10.3390/ani10071223

Cited by 12 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…An additional preventive measure that can be used in multi‐tier systems is the provision of ramps that connect different parts of the system, which reduce the need for flight and long jumps at difficult angles. This in turn reduces collision risk as longer jumps and steeper angles are more difficult for hens to navigate and associated with greater forces at the keel (Scholz et al., 2014; Rufener et al., 2020). Ramps have been shown to reduce keel bone fracture occurrence (Stratmann et al., 2015; Heerkens et al., 2016a).…”

Section: Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Welfare of laying hens on farm

Nielsen¹,

Álvarez²,

Bicout³

et al. 2023

EFS2

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This scientific opinion focuses on the welfare of laying hens, pullets and layer breeders on farm. The most relevant husbandry systems used in Europe are described. For each system, highly relevant welfare consequences were identified, as well as related animal‐based measures (ABMs), and hazards leading to the welfare consequences. Moreover, measures to prevent or correct the hazards and/or mitigate the welfare consequences are recommended. The highly relevant welfare consequences based on severity, duration and frequency of occurrence are bone lesions, group stress, inability to avoid unwanted sexual behaviour, inability to perform comfort behaviour, inability to perform exploratory or foraging behaviour, isolation stress, predation stress, resting problems, restriction of movement, skin disorders and soft tissue lesions and integument damage. The welfare consequences of non‐cage compared to cage systems for laying hens are described and minimum enclosure characteristics are described for laying hens, pullets and layer breeders. Beak trimming, which causes negative welfare consequences and is conducted to reduce the prevalence and severity of pecking, is described as well as the risks associated with rearing of non‐beak‐trimmed flocks. Alternatives to reduce sharpness of the beak without trimming are suggested. Finally, total mortality, plumage damage, wounds, keel bone fractures and carcass condemnations are the most promising ABMs for collection at slaughterhouses to monitor the level of laying hen welfare on farm. Main recommendations include housing all birds in non‐cage systems with easily accessible, elevated platforms and provision of dry and friable litter and access to a covered veranda. It is further recommended to implement protocols to define welfare trait information to encourage progress in genetic selection, implement measures to prevent injurious pecking, rear pullets with dark brooders and reduce male aggression in layer breeders.

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Section: Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Welfare of laying hens on farm

Nielsen¹,

Álvarez²,

Bicout³

et al. 2023

EFS2

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“…In commercial aviaries, failed landings after downwards transitions were more often observed when landing on perches than when landing on litter 6 . Strain differences have also been reported to be direction speci c. The force (energy) experienced at the keel at takeoff was lower for whites than browns completing downwards movements and greater when distance increased in upwards movements 44 . We did not replicate a strain difference in based on direction of the jump, though this could be due to an underrepresentation of downward tasks in our experiment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The development of laying hen locomotion in 3D space is affected by early environmental complexity and genetic strain

Rentsch

Ross

Harlander

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Adult laying hens are increasingly housed in spatially complex systems, e.g., non-cage aviaries, where locomotion between elevated structures can be challenging for these gallinaceous birds. This study assessed the effect of early environmental complexity on spatial skills in two genetic strains. Brown (B) and white (W) feathered birds were raised in: Conventional cages with minimal complexity (Con) or rearing aviaries with low (Low), intermediate (Mid), or high complexity (High). Birds from each housing treatment were challenged at three different time points in three different, age-appropriate vertical spatial tasks. Whites performed better than brown birds in all tests regardless of rearing environment. In chicks, test performance was predominantly explained by variation between replicates and differences in motivation for test participation. Treatment effects were seen in pubertal birds (pullets), with pullets from aviaries performing better than those from Conv. White High pullets performed better than white Mid or Low, an effect that was not found in browns. Pullets preferred to use a ramp to move downwards, but only when ramps had previously been experienced and when the ramp was not too steep. Overall, early environmental complexity affected spatial skills of laying hen pullets with stronger effects in white than brown feathered birds.

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“…Thus, KBFs are a challenging health problem for laying hen production farming. At present, the potential solutions to reduce KBFs in laying hens include dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids or 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3 ( 25-OHD 3 ) supplementation ( Tarlton et al, 2013 ), providing soft perches or ramps between perches in cage and aviary systems ( Stratmann et al, 2015a , b ), providing exercise space and enriched environment during pullet rearing ( Casey-Trott et al, 2017a , b ) and optimizing perch positioning and enriched resources ( Rufener et al, 2020 ; Norman et al, 2021 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%