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Effects of perch design on behaviour and health of laying hens

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

E Struelens  and
FAM Tuyttens
E Struelens*
Affiliation:
University College Ghent, Department of Biosciences and Landscape Architecture, Brusselsesteenweg 161, 9090 Melle, Belgium
FAM Tuyttens
Affiliation:
Animal Sciences Unit, Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research, Scheldeweg 68, 9090 Melle, Belgium
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: ester.struelens@hogent.be
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Abstract

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EU-Directive 1999/74/EC stipulates that furnished cages and non-cage systems for laying hens should be provided with perches. This Directive allows for a wide variety in perch design features possibly affecting perch use and hen health. Perch material and shape mainly affect slipperiness and grip quality and, in this regard, plastic, metal and circular perches are inferior. The incidence of bumble-foot and keel bone deformities can be influenced by perch shape. Perch shapes which reduce localised pressure on the foot pad and the keel-bone are recommended. Several aspects of the arrangement of the perches in the cage or non-cage system are also important. A consistent preference for high perches is seen, provided there is a minimal distance of 19–24 cm between perch and roof. Accessibility of high perches should be ensured, for example by incorporating lower level perches from which hens can reach the higher levels. Such multi-height perch designs also allow behavioural differentiation according to perch height (with most passive behaviour on the higher perches). In non-cage systems, good accessibility can be achieved by minimising the angles between perches at different heights to smaller than 45° and by limiting the distance between horizontal perches to 1 m. The legislated minimum perch length provided per hen (15 cm) adequately allows for synchronised roosting behaviour on straight perches. However, in crosswise perch designs, hens require more perch length per hen as the area close to the cross cannot be used optimally.

Keywords

animal welfarebumblefootlaying henperch designperch useroosting
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 18 , Issue 4: Proceedings of the 4th International Workshop on the Assessment of Animal Welfare at Farm and Group Level , November 2009 , pp. 533 - 538
Copyright
© 2009 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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