Feather Pecking Behaviour and Feather Scores of Laying Hens in Conventional, Slat Floor Pen and Slat Floor with Furnished Pen systems

Abstract

The study examining the feather pecking behavior and the feather scores of laying hens at 20 - 42 weeks of age in three different housing systems was conducted using 594 Hisex Brown hens (age from 19 weeks of age). The animals were kept in three different housing groups, i.e. 1) Conventional group (C) with 3 hens/cage and 3 replicates, with 22 cages/replicate (n = 66). 2) Slat floor group (S) with nest boxes. 3) Slat floor with furnished cage group (SF) with level perches, dust bath trays and nest boxes. In the S and SF groups, there were 3 replicates with 66 hens/pen (n = 66). The results showed that hens in the S group expressed higher feather pecking behavior than those in the SF and C groups (P<0.05). The feather scores on rump, tail and belly areas of hens in the S group were signifcantly higher than those of hens in the C and SF groups (P<0.05), respectively. The hens in the C group had signifcantly higher fnal weights, egg weights, hen-day production and FCR than those in the S and SF groups (P<0.05). This study demonstrated the effects of housing systems on the expression of feather pecking behavior and the feather scores of laying hens. Raising hens in the C and SF systems are alternatives which can help minimize the expression of feather pecking behavior and improve the feather condition of laying hens.