The Effect of the Type of Non-Caged Housing System, Genotype and Age on the Behaviour of Laying Hens

Sokołowicz, Zofia; Dykiel, Magdalena; Topczewska, Jadwiga; Krawczyk, J.; Augustyńska-Prejsnar, Anna

doi:10.3390/ani10122450

Cited by 24 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 55 publications

(79 reference statements)

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“…However, Hocking et al [ 29 ] found that birds spent less time resting, more time foraging (pecking and scratching), and pecked more at the feather bunch at older ages. Sokolowicz et al [ 30 ] found that age had a concomitant influence on the agonistic behavior of birds. According to the results of Coban et al [ 27 ], profitability can be reduced as a result of decreased body weight gain and increased feed conversion rates.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Indigenous, Yellow-Feathered Chickens Body Measurements, Carcass Traits, and Meat Quality Depending on Marketable Age

Yuan

Jiang

Wang

et al. 2022

Animals

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Given an increasing trend in slaughter and chilling for the sale of chickens in China, it is important to determine the marketable age of chickens for chilled sales. This study determined the effects of two marketable ages on the body measurements, carcass traits, and meat quality of yellow-feathered chickens. A total of 360 healthy one-day-old male Xueshan chickens were raised in six pens (straw-covered floor, numbered 1 to 6) and treated in the same manner (free access to food and water) until day 100. Sixty chickens from pens numbered 1 to 3 and 4 to 6 were selected to determine the body measurements, carcass traits, and meat quality at two slaughter ages (90 and 100 days), respectively. One hundred-day-old chickens had a higher body slope, cockscomb, keel, shank lengths, and higher live and dressed weights (p < 0.05). The abdomen skin follicle density, a*(redness) and b*(yellowness) values were higher in 100-day-old chickens (p < 0.05), whereas the 90-day-old chickens were characterized by better spotted skin. For the breast muscle, pH, shear force, a*, moisture, and protein and intramuscular fat contents were lower; moreover, L*(lightness) and b* were higher in 90-day-old chickens. In leg muscles, the pH, shear force, L*, b* and collagen content were lower; furthermore, the a* and moisture contents were higher in 90-day-old chickens (p < 0.05). These findings indicate that two marketable ages both have pros and cons, but 90 days chickens perform better on carcass appearance, and producers can adjust the marketable age to meet needs of different consumers. This study provides a unique idea and theoretical reference for breeding and marketing yellow-feathered chickens.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Indigenous, Yellow-Feathered Chickens Body Measurements, Carcass Traits, and Meat Quality Depending on Marketable Age

Yuan

Jiang

Wang

et al. 2022

Animals

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“…Scratching Scraping of the litter with the claws (Ipema et al, 2020) Preening Grooming of own feathers with beak (Ipema et al, 2020) Trotting Increasing walking step with head high and breast out (Veldkamp and van Niekerk, 2019) Pecking pen mate Pecking movements directed at the body or beak of a pen mate (Ipema et al, 2020) Stretching Stretching one wing together with the leg at the same side or both wings upward and forward (Martin et al, 2005) Chasing One hen chasing another, with fast running, no vocalisations, no hopping and no wing flapping (Sokołowicz et al, 2020) Wing flapping Number of wing beats, often while the bird is standing on the toes (Martin et al, 2005) Shaking Body/wing shake when the plumage is not in order (Martin et al, 2005) Dust bathing Sitting and performing: vertical wing-shaking, body shaking, litter pecking and/or scratching, bill raking, side and head rubbing (van Hierden et al, 2002) Allopreening Social preening (Kenny et al, 2017)…”

Section: Frequency Behaviour Definitionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Welfare implications for broiler chickens reared in an insect larvae-enriched environment: Focus on bird behaviour, plumage status, leg health, and excreta corticosterone

et al. 2022

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The use of insect live larvae as environmental enrichment has recently been proposed in broiler chickens, but the concomitant administration of black soldier fly (BSF) and yellow mealworm (YM) has never been tested yet. Therefore, the present study aims to evaluate the effects of live BSF and YM larvae as environmental enrichments for broiler chickens by means of plumage status, behaviour, leg health, and excreta corticosterone metabolites (CM). A total of 180 4-day old male Ross 308 broiler chickens were randomly distributed in 3 experimental treatments (6 replicates/treatment, 10 birds/replicate) and fed for 35 days as follows: 1) control (C, commercial feed), 2) BSF: C + 5% of the expected daily feed intake [DFI] live BSF larvae and 3) YM: C + 5% of the expected DFI live YM larvae. Feathering, hock burn (HB) and footpad dermatitis (FPD) scores (end of the trial), as well as behavioural observations (beginning of the trial [T0] and every 11 days [T1, T2 and T3] during morning, larvae intake and afternoon) through video recordings, were assessed, and excreta samples collected to evaluate the CM. Feathering, HB and FPD scores, and excreta CM were unaffected by insect live larvae administration (p > 0.05). In the morning, the insect-fed birds displayed higher stretching, wing flapping, ground pecking (at T1 and T3), as well as lower preening (at T1 and T2), than the C group (p < 0.05). During the larvae intake, higher scratching, wing flapping and ground pecking, as well as lower stretching, preening and laying down, were observed in the insect-fed (scratching, stretching and laying down) or YM-fed (wing flapping, ground pecking and preening) groups than the C birds (p < 0.05). In the afternoon, insect live larvae administration increased wing flapping (YM) and laying down (BSF and YM), as well as decreased ground pecking (YM, p < 0.05). In conclusion, the administration of insect live larvae as environmental enrichment (especially YM) was capable of positively influencing the bird welfare through the stimulation of foraging behaviour, increase in activity levels, and reduction in bird frustration, without affecting the plumage status, leg health, and excreta CM.

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“…The activity space of each hen is 6.6–8.3 square meters, well above the set welfare standards and comprising the lowest density of the three systems discussed here. This provides enough private space for laying hens to express comfortable behaviour [ 104 , 135 ]. Extensive outdoor space relieves stress and fear of laying hens [ 136 ].…”

Section: Dawn Of the Implementation Of The Free-range System: Underst...mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Potential of Understory Production Systems to Improve Laying Hen Welfare

Yan

Yang

Zhu

et al. 2022

Animals

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The welfare of laying hens in cage systems is of increasing concern. Represented by the European Union’s ‘End the Cage Age’ initiative, more and more countries have advocated cage-free farming. China, an important country for poultry farming and consumption in the world, is highly dependent on cage systems and lacks confidence in alternative (e.g., free-range) systems. In this context, using China’s abundant woodland resources (including natural forests, plantations, and commercial forests) to facilitate the management of laying hens in a free-range environment may provide highly promising welfare improvement programs. On the basis of the Five Freedoms, we assess the welfare status of understory laying hen management systems with reference to the behavioural needs and preferences of laying hens and the EU standards for free-range and organic production (highest animal welfare standards in the world). The results show that the considered systems meet or even exceed these standards, in terms of key indicators such as outdoor and indoor stocking density, outdoor activity time, and food and drug use. Specifically, the systems provide sufficient organic food for laying hens without using antibiotics. They allow laying hens to avoid beak trimming, as well as to express nesting, foraging, perching, reproductive, dustbathing and other priority behaviours. The presence of roosters and higher use of woodland space allow the laying hens to achieve better feather and bone conditions, thus reducing stress and fear damage. Notably, the predation problem is not yet considered significant. Second, there is evidence that understory laying hen systems are profitable and have been welcomed and supported by farmers and governments in the southwest, south, and north of China. However, whether it can be scaled up is uncertain, and further research is needed. In addition, laying hens in this management system face various risks, such as foot injury, parasitism, and high dependence on consumer markets, which must be considered. Overall, agro-forestry, or accurately, understory poultry raising, provides opportunities and possibilities for free-range laying hens and welfare improvement in China and other countries.

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The Effect of the Type of Non-Caged Housing System, Genotype and Age on the Behaviour of Laying Hens

Cited by 24 publications

References 55 publications

Indigenous, Yellow-Feathered Chickens Body Measurements, Carcass Traits, and Meat Quality Depending on Marketable Age

Indigenous, Yellow-Feathered Chickens Body Measurements, Carcass Traits, and Meat Quality Depending on Marketable Age

Welfare implications for broiler chickens reared in an insect larvae-enriched environment: Focus on bird behaviour, plumage status, leg health, and excreta corticosterone

The Potential of Understory Production Systems to Improve Laying Hen Welfare

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