Effects of type of cage front and feed trough partitions on productivity and ingestive, agonistic, and fearful behaviors of egg-type hens.
Two groups of White Leghorn pullets reared in floor pens were used to study the effects on performance and behavior in cages of horizontal wire cage fronts with and without feed trough partitions (HP and H, respectively) and vertical wire cage fronts with and without feed trough partitions (VP and V, respectively). In Experiment 1, hens in HP and VP cages consumed more (P less than .05) feed than hens in either H or V cages. This greater feed consumption combined with similar egg production resulted in significantly poorer feed conversion (P less than .05) for hens in VP cages. Hens in HP cages had fewer drinking bouts (P less than .05) and an intermediate amount of feeding time. Hens in H, V, and VP cages did not differ significantly in number of drinking bouts and feeding times. There were differences in feeding location preferences among treatments (P less than .05) but not within treatments. In Experiment 2, effects of horizontal (H) and vertical (V) wire cage fronts were examined to determine their effects on productivity and fearful behavior. Hens in H cages had better feather scores (P less than .05) than hens in V cages. Type of cage front had no significant effects on age at sexual maturity, egg production, mortality rate, average egg weight, and body weight.
Anderson
K E
KE
Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506.
Adams
A W
AW
D000378:Agonistic Behavior; D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D002645:Chickens / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D004326:Drinking; D004435:Eating; D005239:Fear; D005241:Feathers; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006799:Housing, Animal