Maximum vertical height during wing flapping of laying hens captured with a depth camera

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Ethology
• Agricultural Engineering

Background:

• Cage-free housing for laying hens is increasing globally, with regulations focusing on floor and height dimensions.
• The vertical space requirements for dynamic behaviors like wing flapping in hens are not well understood.
• Understanding space needs is crucial for optimizing welfare in alternative housing systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the maximum vertical space utilized by laying hens during wing flapping.
• To assess the utility of depth-sensing cameras for measuring dynamic space utilization in poultry.
• To inform the design and regulation of cage-free housing systems.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a ceiling-mounted depth-sensing camera to record individually housed Hy-line W36 hens (45 weeks old).
• Collected data on hens wing flapping within a calibrated test pen.
• Analyzed depth footage to determine the maximum vertical height reached during wing flapping events.

Main Results:

• Laying hens reached a maximum vertical height of 51.0 ± 4.7 cm during wing flapping.
• No correlation was found between physical hen measurements and the vertical space utilized.
• Depth cameras proved effective for measuring dynamic space needs.

Conclusions:

• Laying hens require significant vertical space for unimpeded wing flapping.
• Depth camera technology offers a viable method for assessing space requirements in poultry housing.
• Findings contribute to evidence-based guidelines for cage-free laying hen management.