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Related Experiment Videos

Egg shell colour is affected by laying cage design

A W Walker1, B O Hughes

  • 1ADAS Gleadthorpe, Mansfield, England, UK.

British Poultry Science
|January 30, 1999
PubMed
Summary

Enclosed nest boxes in laying hen cages reduce stress and improve eggshell quality. Hens in these environments lay more eggs in nests and produce darker eggs, indicating less retained egg formation.

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Area of Science:

  • Animal Science
  • Poultry Science
  • Animal Welfare

Background:

  • Stress in laying hens can lead to egg retention and paler eggshells due to extra-cuticular calcium deposition.
  • Eggshell color is an indicator of hen stress and welfare.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the impact of different enriched modified cage designs on egg-laying location and eggshell color.
  • To assess whether enclosed nest boxes reduce hen stress and improve egg quality.

Main Methods:

  • Three types of enriched modified cages were evaluated.
  • Egg-laying location was recorded for each cage type.
  • Eggshell color was objectively measured using a reflectometer.

Main Results:

  • Cages with enclosed nest boxes resulted in a higher proportion of eggs laid in nests (80%) compared to open nest hollows (41%).
  • Eggs from enclosed nest boxes were darker, indicating less extraneous calcium deposition.
  • This suggests reduced egg retention and potentially lower stress levels in hens housed in enclosed nests.

Conclusions:

  • Providing enclosed nest sites for caged laying hens is desirable for reducing stress.
  • Enclosed nest boxes contribute to improved hen welfare and consistent eggshell coloration.

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