Health of Laying Hens in an Aviary System over Five Batches of Birds

Mortality and health were studied in laying hens kept in an aviary system on a practical scale. All manage-ment inputs were done by university staff. Five batches of birds (trials) during a period of 6 years with approximately 4 700 birds per trial were included in the study. The aviary was a three-tiered “Marielund” system divided into 4 pens. Three hybrids, reared on lit-ter with access to perches, were used; Lohmann Selected Leghorn (LSL), Lohmann Brown (LB) and an experimental cross (SLU-1329). The hens were not beak-trimmed. The stocking density was 17 hens/m2 ground floor. Mortality varied between pens and between batches, ranging from normal rates of 3.4% to 7.8%, except in LSL in Trial 2 and LB in Trial 3 where it was much higher (15.6% and 20.9%, respectively). The dom-inating causes of total mortality were salpingitis and cannibalism. Coccidiosis and lym-phoid leucosis contributed significantly to mortality in Trial 2. An infestation with fowl mites (Dermanyssus gallinae) occurred in Trial 1. Feather loss was most severe in LB. Keel bone deviations were recorded at increasing levels by age. Foot abscesses occurred more frequently at 35 weeks than at 55 weeks. LSL was more severely affected than LB and SLU-1329.

[1]  R. Tauson,et al.  Foot and Keel Bone Disorders in Laying Hens: Effects of Artificial Perch Material and Hybrid , 1996 .

[2]  H. Purchase.  The Pathogenesis and Pathology of Neoplasms Caused by Avian Leukosis Viruses , 1986 .

[3]  J. Hurnik,et al.  The effect of long-term housing in an aviary and battery cages on the physical condition of laying hens: body weight, feather condition, claw length, foot lesions, and tibia strength. , 1994, Poultry science.

[4]  H. B. Simonsen,et al.  Effect of Floor Type and Density on the Integument of Egg-Layers , 1980 .

[5]  R. Tauson,et al.  Evaluation of Procedures for Scoring the Integument of Laying Hens—Independent Scoring of Plumage Condition , 1984 .

[6]  R. Tauson,et al.  Aviary Systems and Conventional Cages for Laying Hens: Effects on Production, Egg Quality, Health and Bird Location in Three Hybrids , 1995 .

[7]  R. Tauson,et al.  Studies on alternative keeping systems for laying hens in Sweden at the Dept. of Animal Nutrition and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala. March 1988 - October 1991 , 1992 .

[8]  J. Hurnik,et al.  Behavioral Responses of Hens to Simulated Dawn and Dusk Periods , 1991 .

[9]  R. Tauson,et al.  Effects on Production, Health and Egg Quality of Varying Proportions of Wheat and Barley in Diets for Two Hybrids of Laying Hens Kept in Different Housing Systems , 1996 .

[10]  M. Appleby.  Should Cages for Laying Hens Be Banned or Modified? , 1993, Animal Welfare.

[11]  R. Tauson,et al.  Performance and Egg Quality of Laying Hens in an Aviary System , 1998 .

[12]  J.H.M. Metz,et al.  Integration of animal welfare into housing systems for laying hens , 1992 .

[13]  R. Tauson,et al.  Influence of plumage conditions on the hen's feed requirement. , 1980 .

[14]  L. Wilkins,et al.  Broken bones in domestic fowl: handling and processing damage in end-of-lay battery hens. , 1989, British poultry science.

[15]  M. Appleby,et al.  Behaviour, health and integument of four hybrids of laying hens in modified and conventional cages. , 1996, British poultry science.

[16]  R. Tauson,et al.  Foot and Skeletal Disorders in Laying Hens: Effects of Perch Design, Hybrid, Housing System and Stocking Density , 1994 .