New Cage Design for Laying Hens

U. A. LUESCHER,1 J. F. HURNIK,' and J. POS 2

Department of Animal and Poultry Science and School of Engineering, University ofGuelph,
Guelph, Ontario, Canada NIG 2W1

(Received for publication August 26, 1981)

ABSTRACT Battery cages for laying hens are being increasingly criticized as providing an inade-
quate environment for the welfare of birds. A prototype cage design, which should come closer to
meeting the ethological needs of chickens, presently is being developed at the University of
Guelph. Its basic principle focuses on varying the internal cage environment in time rather than in
space according to the circadian behavioral rhythms of the birds.
(Key words: laying hens, cage design, behavior, animal welfare)
1982 Poultry Science 61:606-607

INTRODUCTION environment in time rather than in space,

Battery cages for laying hens are widely used
in the commercial production of chicken eggs.
The reason for their widespread acceptance is
high production efficiency due to high bird
density, better feed conversion, lower labor
costs, and easier visual inspection of birds.
However, battery cages have been heavily criti-
cized as being inadequate for animal welfare.
There exists, therefore, good reason to develop
an alternative cage system which accommodates
the behavioral needs of the birds without im-
pairing the economic interests of the producer
and the affordability of the poultry products
for consumers.
Attempts to do this have been made, inclu-
ding the development of colony cages and "Get
Away" cages (Bareham, 1976; Brantas, 1978).
The colony cage actually yields no improve-
ment for the birds and even increases social
interference. The "Get Away" cage provides a
more complex environment, allowing the hens
to manifest more of their natural behavior
repertoire. However, it requires more space and
a pronounced decrease in stocking density.
Most behaviors follow a distinct circadian
rhythm and are influenced by social facilita-
tion. Consequently, there is competition for
certain features of the cage at certain times of
the day, while at the same time other parts are
not in use. Since this results in poor utilization
of space, it may be more efficient to alter the
1
Department of Animal and Poultry Science.
2
School of Engineering.
allowing all the hens to conduct various be-
havioral activities during the period of time
when such behavior is generally performed in
natural circumstances. This might be achieved
by equipping a battery cage with devices which
could be presented to the hens at the appro-
priate time of the day (Hurnik, 1979). Having
the approximate dimensions of a commercial
battery cage, it could sustain densities of birds
similar to the ones found in commercial opera-
tions.
Such a cage is presently under development
at the University of Guelph. As a first
step, the use of a moveable roost is being
tested (Fig. 1).
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
Shallow cages (45 cm wide, 32.5 cm deep,
and 37.5 cm high) are equipped with a wooden
perch extending from one side of the cage to
the other, parallel to the feed trough at a dis-
tance of 12.5 cm from it. The perch is 3.5 cm
wide and kept level with the cage floor when
not in operation, allowing eggs to roll through
the cage. Controlled by a timer, it can be raised
approximately 4 cm, providing the hens with an
opportunity to roost comfortably. The slot in
the cage floor for the roost is sufficiently wide
so that toes are not caught between the roost
and the wire floor. The movement of the roost
is slow (taking 5 sec) to provide enough time
for the birds to leave the descending roost with-
out undue disturbance.
A unit of 108 cages with roosts and an iden-

606
 RESEARCH NOTE
32.5 cm
FIG. 1. Schematic illustration of the cage showing
the roost in raised and lowered position.
tical unit w i t h o u t roosts are being used for the
investigation. The roosts are raised 15 min be-
fore the lights go out and lowered 15 min after
the lights come on. A stocking density effect is
also being studied, and 1 to 4 hens have been
assigned randomly to each cage.
607
DISCUSSION
Preliminary observations reveal that the best
use of the roost is made at a stocking density of
two hens per cage (up to 90% of their resting
time at night is spent sitting on the roost). Up
to the third month of production, no signifi-
cant differences have been found in number of
eggs laid and egg quality traits. Similarly, the
scores for feathering and excitability do not
differ so far between experimental and control
groups. A further step planned in the develop-
ment of the cage is to shelter the cage during
the peak of oviposition so that the whole cage
is changed into a laying nest during that time.
In addition, feed delivery will be synchronized
with the time of maximal feed intake.
REFERENCES
Bareham, J. R., 1976. A comparison of the behaviour
and production of laying hens in experimental
and conventional battery cages. Appl. Anim.
Ethol. 2:291-303.
Brantas, G. C , 1978. Ethologische Betrachtungen an
Legehennen in Get-away-Kaefigen. Arch. Geflue-
gelkd. 42-129-132.
Hurnik, J. F., 1979. Behaviour and cage design. Pages
18—24 in Poultry Industry School. University of
Guelph, Ontario.