Floor space allowances for the caged domestic fowl

The maximal cross-sectional area, the length and the width of 48 pure bred hens weighing between 1 and 4 kg were determined using a photographic technique. It is shown that the typical (2.4 kg) bird occupies an area of 637 cm2 but that this value is much affected by the degree of feathering. The same bird is 21.3 cm wide and 41 cm long. Space allowances for caged birds are discussed in the light of these data.