Rearing laying hens: the effect of aviary design and genetic strain on pullet exercise and perching behavior

Introduction To prepare laying hens for life in cage-free aviaries, they must be reared aviaries that accustom them to the challenges of navigating a complex three-dimensional structure. Rearing vary design and contain brooding compartment which chicks are confined during first six weeks age. These compartments greatly their size complexity. The present study aimed examine impact environmental complexity early birds’ genetic strain on space use forms/types exercise. Methods Four consecutive flocks brown white were raised three styles rearing aviary with low, intermediate, or high Behavioral observations performed at ages phase (weeks 1, 3, 5) open when opened 7, 11, 17). Behaviors observed categorized as aerial locomotion, perching, dynamic load-bearing behavior (DLB), wing-involved (WLB). Results During phase, exercised most frequently (e.g., DLB events/minute: 1.75 High vs 1.11 Mid 0.10 Low, p<0.0001 ), effect remained whites, but not browns, phase. White pullets more than both 1.47 1.28 events/minute, ) phases 1.17 0.93 housing x stain interaction p=0.009 ). Throughout rearing, whites had higher odds perching browns (brooding: 0.52 0.45, p=0.04 , open: 0.27 0.17, p=0.0007 Discussion We concluded can affect phase; however, once opened, differences almost exclusively affected pullets. data suggest birds considered pullet goal maximizing musculoskeletal development hen