Perch shape and material affect perch use and health parameters of laying hens during the rearing and laying phase
SUMMARY: Perches are an important resource for laying hens and differ in characteristics like shape, material and diameter. In this study, different perches were tested in regard to animal welfare, focusing specifically on the behavior and health of laying hens during rearing and lay. Five perches,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Applied Poultry Research |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1056617124000722 |
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| author | Ariane Stratmann Nadine Ringgenberg |
| author_facet | Ariane Stratmann Nadine Ringgenberg |
| author_sort | Ariane Stratmann |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | SUMMARY: Perches are an important resource for laying hens and differ in characteristics like shape, material and diameter. In this study, different perches were tested in regard to animal welfare, focusing specifically on the behavior and health of laying hens during rearing and lay. Five perches, i.e., square-fiber, mushroom-metal, mushroom-plastic, round-plastic and round-metal perches, were installed in 15 experimental pens with 1 perch type per pen. Each pen was populated with 20 hens (10 Lohmann Selected Leghorn and 10 Lohmann Brown hens) and kept in the same pen from d 1 until 40 wk of age. Different behaviors and health parameters (i.e., keel, footpad and plumage condition) were assessed at various ages by scan sampling and continuous observations of video recordings and live assessments, respectively. Perch use was affected by age, hybrid and perch type: it increased with age, white birds used perches more than brown birds, the round-metal perch was used the least and the mushroom-metal perch the most. In more than 50% of observed walking bouts on perches, balance movements occurred. These were observed more during the dusk phase and on the mushroom-shaped perches while birds with the round-metal perch had the least balance problems but also the least number of walking bouts. All health parameters were of minor severity. They were however influenced by perch type and age, where all of them increased with age and in birds with mushroom-metal perches. Hen behavior and health were affected by perch type, highlighting its significance for laying hen welfare. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-53542c566b5c4412a0c8e1900c7e271b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1056-6171 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Applied Poultry Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-53542c566b5c4412a0c8e1900c7e271b2024-12-05T05:19:34ZengElsevierJournal of Applied Poultry Research1056-61712024-12-01334100474Perch shape and material affect perch use and health parameters of laying hens during the rearing and laying phaseAriane Stratmann0Nadine Ringgenberg1Center for proper housing of ruminants and pigs, Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office, 1725, Posieux, Switzerland; Center for proper housing of poultry and rabbits, Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office, 3052 Zollikofen, Switzerland; Corresponding author:Center for proper housing of poultry and rabbits, Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office, 3052 Zollikofen, SwitzerlandSUMMARY: Perches are an important resource for laying hens and differ in characteristics like shape, material and diameter. In this study, different perches were tested in regard to animal welfare, focusing specifically on the behavior and health of laying hens during rearing and lay. Five perches, i.e., square-fiber, mushroom-metal, mushroom-plastic, round-plastic and round-metal perches, were installed in 15 experimental pens with 1 perch type per pen. Each pen was populated with 20 hens (10 Lohmann Selected Leghorn and 10 Lohmann Brown hens) and kept in the same pen from d 1 until 40 wk of age. Different behaviors and health parameters (i.e., keel, footpad and plumage condition) were assessed at various ages by scan sampling and continuous observations of video recordings and live assessments, respectively. Perch use was affected by age, hybrid and perch type: it increased with age, white birds used perches more than brown birds, the round-metal perch was used the least and the mushroom-metal perch the most. In more than 50% of observed walking bouts on perches, balance movements occurred. These were observed more during the dusk phase and on the mushroom-shaped perches while birds with the round-metal perch had the least balance problems but also the least number of walking bouts. All health parameters were of minor severity. They were however influenced by perch type and age, where all of them increased with age and in birds with mushroom-metal perches. Hen behavior and health were affected by perch type, highlighting its significance for laying hen welfare.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1056617124000722poultry welfareauthorization procedurebehavior |
| spellingShingle | Ariane Stratmann Nadine Ringgenberg Perch shape and material affect perch use and health parameters of laying hens during the rearing and laying phase Journal of Applied Poultry Research poultry welfare authorization procedure behavior |
| title | Perch shape and material affect perch use and health parameters of laying hens during the rearing and laying phase |
| title_full | Perch shape and material affect perch use and health parameters of laying hens during the rearing and laying phase |
| title_fullStr | Perch shape and material affect perch use and health parameters of laying hens during the rearing and laying phase |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perch shape and material affect perch use and health parameters of laying hens during the rearing and laying phase |
| title_short | Perch shape and material affect perch use and health parameters of laying hens during the rearing and laying phase |
| title_sort | perch shape and material affect perch use and health parameters of laying hens during the rearing and laying phase |
| topic | poultry welfare authorization procedure behavior |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1056617124000722 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT arianestratmann perchshapeandmaterialaffectperchuseandhealthparametersoflayinghensduringtherearingandlayingphase AT nadineringgenberg perchshapeandmaterialaffectperchuseandhealthparametersoflayinghensduringtherearingandlayingphase |