Commercial layer hybrids kept under organic conditions: a comparison of range use, welfare, and egg production in two layer strains

TY - JOUR

T1 - Commercial layer hybrids kept under organic conditions

T2 - a comparison of range use, welfare, and egg production in two layer strains

AU - Wurtz, Kaitlin Elizabeth

AU - Thodberg, Karen

AU - Berenjian, Atefeh

AU - Foldager, Leslie

AU - Tahamtani, Faye Machado

AU - Riber, Anja Brinch

PY - 2022/9

Y1 - 2022/9

N2 - Outdoor range areas provide laying hens with improved opportunities to perform natural behaviors and increase the available space per bird, however, birds are also exposed to potentially stressful factors including weather and predators. Ability to cope with challenging environments varies between different strains and must be considered to ensure good welfare. The aim of this study was to determine how suitable two hybrids, the Dekalb White (DW) and the Bovans Brown (BB), are for organic production with special emphasis on ranging behavior. A total of 1200 hens were housed according to organic regulations across 12 flocks of 100 birds. Range and shelter use, effect of weather, vegetation cover, egg production and quality, and mortality were assessed in addition to a range of clinical welfare indicators. Initially a greater proportion of DW hens accessed the range. However, after approximately two months, a greater proportion of BB were using the range and venturing further from the house. DW hens were more likely to use the shelters than BB hens (P

AB - Outdoor range areas provide laying hens with improved opportunities to perform natural behaviors and increase the available space per bird, however, birds are also exposed to potentially stressful factors including weather and predators. Ability to cope with challenging environments varies between different strains and must be considered to ensure good welfare. The aim of this study was to determine how suitable two hybrids, the Dekalb White (DW) and the Bovans Brown (BB), are for organic production with special emphasis on ranging behavior. A total of 1200 hens were housed according to organic regulations across 12 flocks of 100 birds. Range and shelter use, effect of weather, vegetation cover, egg production and quality, and mortality were assessed in addition to a range of clinical welfare indicators. Initially a greater proportion of DW hens accessed the range. However, after approximately two months, a greater proportion of BB were using the range and venturing further from the house. DW hens were more likely to use the shelters than BB hens (P

KW - Genotype

KW - Laying hen

KW - Outdoor access

KW - Range use

KW - Welfare

U2 - 10.1016/j.psj.2022.102005

DO - 10.1016/j.psj.2022.102005

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 35841633

SN - 0032-5791

VL - 101

JO - Poultry Science

JF - Poultry Science

IS - 9

M1 - 102005

ER -