Effect of floor space on the behavior of laying hens in commercial cages

Background: the size of commercial cages has been raised as the major component in the welfare of laying hens. Objectives: to describe the effect of floor space on the behavior of laying hens housed in commercial cages. Methods: one hundred and thirty-five Hy-Line Brown laying hens (aged 25 ~ 50 wee...

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Main Author: Shin-Jae Rhim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidad de Antioquia 2014-06-01
Series:Revista Colombiana de Ciencias Pecuarias
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.org.co/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0120-06902014000200004&lng=en&tlng=en
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author Shin-Jae Rhim
author_facet Shin-Jae Rhim
author_sort Shin-Jae Rhim
collection DOAJ
description Background: the size of commercial cages has been raised as the major component in the welfare of laying hens. Objectives: to describe the effect of floor space on the behavior of laying hens housed in commercial cages. Methods: one hundred and thirty-five Hy-Line Brown laying hens (aged 25 ~ 50 weeks) were housed in different sized commercial cages and monitored using video technology during 10 h per day at 2-week intervals. Results: total time spent standing, dozing, and sleeping were significantly higher in small cages than in medium and large cages. Total time spent walking was higher in large cages. Cage-pecking frequency was higher in small cages while stretching frequency was higher in large cages. Moreover, preening frequency was lower in small cages. Conspecific pecking was higher in small cages. Conclusions: cage size is a critical factor affecting the behavior of laying hens. This study can help managers to understand spatial relations in caged hens.
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spelling doaj.art-99081af97dce4d82ab5f5967b45fda472022-12-21T20:37:15ZengUniversidad de AntioquiaRevista Colombiana de Ciencias Pecuarias0120-06902014-06-0127295101S0120-06902014000200004Effect of floor space on the behavior of laying hens in commercial cagesShin-Jae Rhim0Chung-Ang UniversityBackground: the size of commercial cages has been raised as the major component in the welfare of laying hens. Objectives: to describe the effect of floor space on the behavior of laying hens housed in commercial cages. Methods: one hundred and thirty-five Hy-Line Brown laying hens (aged 25 ~ 50 weeks) were housed in different sized commercial cages and monitored using video technology during 10 h per day at 2-week intervals. Results: total time spent standing, dozing, and sleeping were significantly higher in small cages than in medium and large cages. Total time spent walking was higher in large cages. Cage-pecking frequency was higher in small cages while stretching frequency was higher in large cages. Moreover, preening frequency was lower in small cages. Conspecific pecking was higher in small cages. Conclusions: cage size is a critical factor affecting the behavior of laying hens. This study can help managers to understand spatial relations in caged hens.http://www.scielo.org.co/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0120-06902014000200004&lng=en&tlng=enbienestar animalHy-Line Brownpicoteo conespecíficorelaciones espacialestamaño de la jaula
spellingShingle Shin-Jae Rhim
Effect of floor space on the behavior of laying hens in commercial cages
Revista Colombiana de Ciencias Pecuarias
bienestar animal
Hy-Line Brown
picoteo conespecífico
relaciones espaciales
tamaño de la jaula
title Effect of floor space on the behavior of laying hens in commercial cages
title_full Effect of floor space on the behavior of laying hens in commercial cages
title_fullStr Effect of floor space on the behavior of laying hens in commercial cages
title_full_unstemmed Effect of floor space on the behavior of laying hens in commercial cages
title_short Effect of floor space on the behavior of laying hens in commercial cages
title_sort effect of floor space on the behavior of laying hens in commercial cages
topic bienestar animal
Hy-Line Brown
picoteo conespecífico
relaciones espaciales
tamaño de la jaula
url http://www.scielo.org.co/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0120-06902014000200004&lng=en&tlng=en
work_keys_str_mv AT shinjaerhim effectoffloorspaceonthebehavioroflayinghensincommercialcages