Behavior, egg production, and bone strength of commercial laying hens at various cage densities and different cage types

Abstract

Effects of modified cages with perch and cage density on behavior, egg production, and bone strength were investigated in hens reared either in conventional or modified cages with three densities, i.e. 2, 3, and 4 hens/cage. Neither cage type effect nor their interactions with cage densities were found. Hens in two hens/cage displayed higher percentage of feeding and preening and lower percentage of standing and sham dust-bath with higher body weight change and femur strength than their counterparts (p<0.05). Humerus strength of hens in two hens/cage was higher than of those in four hens/cage (p<0.05). No differences were apparent between two vs. three hens/cage groups in humerus strength and between three vs. four hens/cage groups in femur strength. An alternative to improve hen welfare in the conventional cages by perch provision is unlikely to be effective as retaining the small group size with optimum area/hen would be more vital.

Keywords

• behavior
• bone strength
• cage density
• modified cage
• laying hen