P. Abrahamsson et R. Tauson, EFFECT OF PERCHES AT DIFFERENT POSITIONS IN CONVENTIONAL CAGES FOR LAYING HENS OF 2 DIFFERENT STRAINS, Acta agriculturae Scandinavica. Section A, Animal science, 43(4), 1993, pp. 228-235
Production, health and behaviour were studied in 648 White Leghorn hen
s of two strains, LSL and Shaver 288, housed in three-tier battery cag
es (four hens per cage, 600 cm(2) per hen) with three treatments; two
with a perch fitted across the cage, 17 (PB) or 24 cm (PC) from the ba
ck of the cage, respectively, and control cages without perch (NP). In
troducing a perch did not significantly affect production, but PC gave
more dirty eggs, and both PC and PB tended to give more cracked eggs.
The perch caused inferior keel bone condition and hygiene of the cage
floor and a stronger tibia. LSL hens showed higher production, better
feed conversion ratio, fewer cracked eggs, better keel bone health an
d shorter claws than Shavers. Use of the perch averaged 25 and 90% dur
ing day and night, respectively. The perch did not significantly affec
t other behaviours. There were significant interactions between strain
and cage design regarding laying percentage, egg weight, cracked eggs
, live weight, foot- and perch hygiene, keel bone condition and toe pa
d hyperkeratosis.