Observations on the effects of the flooring used for laying hens [German]

摘要

The effects of the flooring type used for laying hens was examined. The question was whether trials conducted using small groups of hens provide results which can be used to extrapolate to commercial flocks. The parameters of interest were laying performance, egg yield, social interactions, the clinical and pathological findings and the number of dead hens. The results from trials involving small groups of hens were found to be comparable to those for larger; commercial flocks. Each housing system was found to induce stress in the hens in a different way. The flooring of the housing system appeared to be more important as an inducer of stress than the cage housing systems examined.