Perches or grids? What do rearing chickens differing in growth performance prefer for roosting?

Malchow, Julia; Berk, Jutta; Puppe, Birger; Schrader, Lars

doi:10.3382/ps/pey320

Cited by 33 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Chickens use elevated structures as an anti-predator behavior ( Newberry et al., 2001 ). As known by Malchow et al. (2019) , broilers prefer elevated platforms instead of perches because of the difficulty to find a balanced resting position with increasing body weight.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of a partially perforated flooring system on animal-based welfare indicators in broiler housing

et al. 2020

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Alternative flooring designs in broiler housing have been the subject of intensive research. Research comparing different floor types with a focus on animal-based welfare indicators might be of special interest to meet the animal's needs. This case–control study investigated the effect of a partially perforated vs. a littered flooring system on health- and behavior-based welfare indicators of fast-growing Ross 308 broilers. Furthermore, production performance was assessed. The experimental barn was partially (50%) equipped with a perforated floor directly underneath the feeders and water lines accessible by perforated ramps. Conventional wood shavings were used in the control barn, as usual in practice. There were 4 fattening periods (repetitions) of 31 to 32 D performed with 500 animals per barn (final density of 39 kg m −2 ). Beside the flooring system, management conditions were identical. Health- and behavior-based welfare indicators were assessed weekly. Production performance indicators were measured continuously during animal control. During the avoidance distance test, animals were less fearful on day 21 ( P = 0.010) and tended to be less fearful on day 28 ( P = 0.083) in the barn with the partially perforated flooring system compared to the littered control barn. More animals around the novel object were also assessed in the barn with the partially perforated flooring system during the novel object test on day 1 ( P < 0.001) and a tendency was found on day 28 ( P = 0.064). Results showed that the partially perforated flooring system had a positive influence on foot pad dermatitis from day 14 (all P ≤ 0.007) and hock burn on day 28 ( P < 0.001). With regard to the production performance, animals showed no differences in final body weight for both floor types. In this study, the partially perforated flooring system had a positive effect on animal health and behavior as indicated by welfare indicators without a reduction in production performance.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of a partially perforated flooring system on animal-based welfare indicators in broiler housing

et al. 2020

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“…In studies on height preferences, perches were most often installed at higher levels, whereas grids were installed only at heights up to 30 cm. In a recent study (9), chickens from three strains that differ in growth performance preferred the highest structures, at 50 cm, during the dark period.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…In previous studies, different elevated structures, such as perches, platforms, straw bales, or bars, have been provided (5–7). It is known that fast-growing broilers prefer platforms compared to perches (8, 9). In studies on height preferences, perches were most often installed at higher levels, whereas grids were installed only at heights up to 30 cm.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Elevated Grids on Growing Male Chickens Differing in Growth Performance

et al. 2019

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Pullets, i. e., chickens of layer lines are often raised in housings equipped with perches. In contrast, broiler chickens most often are raised in a barren environment that lacks any three-dimensional structures, even though broilers also are motivated to use elevated structures. In addition, environmental enrichment may improve welfare problems in broiler chickens, such as skeletal disorders or contact dermatitis. Due to ethical reasons, currently there are attempts to fatten the male chickens of layer strains or to use dual purpose strains. However, there is only limited knowledge on the behavior of these chickens until now. The aim of this study was to test the use of elevated grids and their effect on animal-based indicators (e.g., physical condition). In two successive trials, we kept a total of 1,217 male chickens from three strains (Lohmann Dual, Lohmann Brown Plus, Ross 308) that show differences in growth performance in 24 pens (two trials × three strains × eight pens). In half of the pens, grids were offered at three different heights (enriched groups); in the other half of the pens, no elevated structures were installed (control groups). We recorded the number of birds using the grids at the different heights as well as locomotor activity, walking ability, plumage cleanliness, and the footpad health of chickens. Chickens with low and medium growth performance preferred the highest grids during both the light and dark periods. In contrast, fast-growing chickens used the lowest grid more frequently. Fast-growing chickens kept in the enriched pens tended to have a higher level of locomotor activity and reduced chest cleanliness. Chickens from the medium growth performance strain showed better walking ability when kept in the enriched pens. Enrichment did not affect any of the welfare measures in the slow-growing chickens. These findings suggest that elevated structures may improve chicken welfare, particularly for medium growing chickens. For fast-growing chickens we found evidence for an improvement of animal-based indicators although they used the elevated structures less. However, regardless of growth performance, elevated grids offer the birds an opportunity to rest in a species-specific manner.

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“…Studies met vleeskuikens laten echter een vergelijkbare preferentie zien voor nachtelijk rustten op roosters boven zitstokken (Oester et al, 2005;de Jong en van Wijhe-Kiezebrink, 2014;Norring et al, 2016;Malchow et al, 2019).…”

Section: Berekeningen En Statistische Analyseunclassified

Voorkeur voor verhoogde rustplaats bij vleeskuikenouderdieren

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2020

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Perches or grids? What do rearing chickens differing in growth performance prefer for roosting?

Cited by 33 publications

References 25 publications

Effects of a partially perforated flooring system on animal-based welfare indicators in broiler housing

Effects of a partially perforated flooring system on animal-based welfare indicators in broiler housing

Effects of Elevated Grids on Growing Male Chickens Differing in Growth Performance

Voorkeur voor verhoogde rustplaats bij vleeskuikenouderdieren

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