Effects of type of cage partition, cage shape, and bird density on productivity and well-being of layers.
In Experiment 1 there were no significant differences in rate of lay, egg quality, latency to feeding, and feather condition of hens in cages with wire mesh or solid metal side partitions. Birds in cages with solid metal side partitions had significantly higher mortality (6%) and weight gain (6%) than those in cages with wire side partitions. The deep caged hens had significantly lower mortality (8%) than the shallow caged hens. Hens housed at 464 cm2 of floor area/hen had significantly higher hen-housed egg production (4.9%), lower weight gain (8%), and higher average feather scores (.8 unit) than those housed at 348 cm2. In Experiment 2 type of cage side and back partitions (wire vs. solid metal) significantly affected grams of egg per gram of feed. Birds in deep cages had significantly lower mortality (8.6%) and higher feed consumption (15.2 g/hen/day) than those in shallow cages. Hen-housed rate of lay, mortality, weight gain, feed conversion, and feather scores were significantly affected by bird density: 64.6%, 15%, 24.6%, .384% g egg/g feed, and 4.7 units, respectively, for hens with 464 cm2 floor area vs. 70.8%, 8.3%, 25.2%, .362% g egg/g feed, and 5.8 units for hens with 348 cm2. Data suggest that hens in cages with solid metal sides performed similarly to their sisters in cages with wire mesh sides and backs.
D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000502:physiology*; D003441:Crowding; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006799:Housing, Animal; D010058:Oviposition; D011156:Population Density