Pullet Rearing Affects Collisions and Perch Use in Enriched Colony Cage Layer Housing

Area of Science:

• Animal Behavior
• Poultry Science
• Animal Welfare

Background:

• Aviary (AVI) rearing in pullets enhances spatial abilities compared to conventional cages (CON).
• Previous studies showed behavioral benefits of AVI rearing only up to 23 weeks of age.
• Understanding long-term effects of early rearing environments on laying hen behavior is crucial for welfare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the long-term effects of aviary (AVI) versus conventional cage (CON) rearing on Lohmann LSL-Lite hen behavior.
• To assess behavioral differences in enriched colony cages (ECC) from 21 to 49 weeks of age.
• To determine if early rearing environment influences activity levels and perch use in later life.

Main Methods:

• Hens were reared in CON or AVI until 19 weeks, then moved to ECC with varied perches.
• Tri-axial accelerometers recorded acceleration events in focal hens at 21, 35, and 49 weeks.
• Video analysis identified behaviors linked to acceleration and perch utilization.

Main Results:

• CON hens exhibited more daytime acceleration events (p = 0.008) and collisions (p = 0.04) than AVI hens at 21 and 35 weeks.
• Perch usage was similar at night, but CON hens less frequently used the high perch (p < 0.001) than AVI hens.
• Aviary rearing positively influenced hen behavior regarding collisions until peak lay and perch height preference until mid-lay.

Conclusions:

• Early aviary rearing confers lasting behavioral advantages for laying hens in enriched environments.
• AVI hens demonstrate improved activity regulation and spatial utilization (perch preference) later in life.
• Rearing environment significantly impacts hen behavior beyond the pullet stage, informing housing system choices.