Modification of laying hen cages to improve behavior

Area of Science:

• Animal Welfare Science
• Avian Behavior
• Agricultural Engineering

Background:

• Conventional cages for laying hens present welfare challenges, particularly concerning behavior.
• While cages reduce aggression and cannibalism, other behavioral issues persist.
• Previous research explored cage design improvements and larger group housing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate methods for reducing behavioral problems in laying hen cages.
• To identify cage modifications that enhance bird welfare and producer benefits.
• To assess the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of proposed cage improvements.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing cage designs and behavioral studies.
• Analysis of novel cage designs and group housing systems.
• Evaluation of behavioral outcomes (e.g., aggression, feeding, dust bathing) in different cage environments.

Main Results:

• Improved conventional cage designs positively impacted feeding behavior.
• Larger group cages (e.g., getaway cages) increased behavioral freedom but also aggression.
• Novel cage designs for conventional group sizes showed promise in reducing problems.
• Increased cage area (width, height) and enrichment (nest box, dust bath, perch) significantly reduced behavioral issues.

Conclusions:

• Cage modifications, including increased space and enrichment, can mitigate many behavioral problems in laying hens.
• Some improvements are low-cost, while others may require premium egg pricing or legislative changes.
• Enhancing cage design offers a viable strategy to improve both bird welfare and production efficiency.