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

Area of Science:

• Animal Behavior and Welfare
• Poultry Science
• Livestock Management

Background:

• Domestic fowl (Gallus gallus f. dom.) exhibit a strong innate motivation to roost on elevated structures.
• Previous research suggests broiler chickens favor elevated platforms over perches, but optimal height and structure type remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate broiler chicken preference for elevated perches versus grids at varying heights (10, 30, 50 cm).
• To determine how age, time of day, and growth performance strains influence the use of elevated structures.

Main Methods:

• Three broiler strains (Ross 308, Lohmann Dual, Lohmann Brown Plus) were housed in experimental compartments.
• Video recording and time-sampling observation analyzed structure usage across different ages and times (dawn, light, dusk, dark).
• Behavioral activity was quantified using an antenna-transponder system.

Main Results:

• Ross and Dual strains consistently preferred grids over perches across all observation periods.
• Elevated structure usage increased with age for all strains and times of day.
• During the dark period, 50 cm height was most preferred by all strains at the end of the fattening period.

Conclusions:

• Chickens are motivated to use high-elevated, grid-like structures for roosting, particularly at night.
• Strain-specific differences in behavioral activity and structure preference warrant further investigation.
• Optimal space requirements for elevated structures in broiler housing need additional research.