Effects of chopped sinusoidal voltages on the behavior and performance of laying hens

The effects of chopped sinusoidal electrical voltages were evaluated on laying hens between 23 and 43 weeks of age. One hundred and twenty hens were caged individually in six blocks of 20 birds each. The treatments were distributed in a randomized complete block design. In Experiment 1, voltage differences of 0, 3, 6, and 9 V were applied between the metallic nipple waterer and the metallic cage. In Experiment 2, differences of 0, 12, 15, and 18 V were applied. In Experiments 3, 4, and 5, the hens were placed three per cage. Voltage differences of 0 or 6 V were applied in Experiment 3; 0 or 12 V were applied in Experiment 4; and 0 or 18 V were applied in Experiment 5. Daily water and feed intake, laying rate, and behavior of the hens were measured. No effects which could be consistently attributed to voltage were found at these levels. Electrical resistance of 23 and 40 week old hens was measured and found to vary between 350 and 544 kilo-ohms. Although negative effects in farm animals may occasionally be attributed to stray electrical voltages, in these experiments, voltage differences as high as 18 V had no effect on production performance and behavior of laying hens, probably because hens are very poor electrical conductors.