EVALUATION OF ALTERNATIVE HOUSING SYSTEMS FOR LAYING HENS

Housing systems for laying hens that might serve as alternative to lay ing cages are briefly described. The present evaluation of the differe nt housing systems includes aspects of animal behaviour and welfare, a nimal health, working place conditions, environmental pollution, econo mics of production and consumers' attitudes. None of the housing syste ms (including laying cages) meets all aspects of the criteria describe d completely. The major problems in alternative housing systems are: b ehaviour (floor laying, cannibalism), health and performance are less predictable and production costs are higher than in cages. These probl ems might be solved by a carefully balanced compromise between behavio ural freedom for the birds and improved control of environmental varia bles.