Evaluation of small group housing systems and furnished cages as regards particular behaviour patterns in the layer strain Lohmann Selected Leghorn

Evaluation of small group housing systems and furnished cages as regards particular behaviour patterns in the layer strain Lohmann Selected Leghorn During the 3(rd), 6(th) and 9(th) month of the laying period, the effect of the small group housing system Eurovent 625+a-EU and the furnished cages Aviplus and Eurovent 625A-EU on the light-period behaviour was examined in the layer strain Lohmann Selected Leghorn. The small group housing system was housed with groups of 40 and 60 hens, while the furnished cages were designed for groups of 10 and 20 hens. The behavioural observations were taken during 4 consecutive days at each month of observation. Every examined behavioural pattern was registered by using direct observation and instantaneous sampling. The behavioural observations showed that the behavioural disorder feather pecking was significantly effected by the housing system. Feather pecking occurred most frequently in the furnished cage Aviplus. This result was due to the inefficiency of the dust bathing substrate to satisfy the requirement of pecking and manipulating substrates. As a consequence, the pecking activity was related to the cage mates' plumage. As regards dust bathing behaviour it was shown that the dust bath in the system Aviplus was significantly less frequently used compared to the Astro-turf-, Aviplus- and Netlon mats in the other systems. In addition, the behavioural observations revealed that the nests were not only used for egg laying, but also as refuge site during the whole light-period. Resting on perches was significantly more frequently observed in the Eurovent systems than in the Aviplus. With an average frequency of 1.7%, locomotion activities were very rarely performed in every system examined. Despite this overall low locomotion activity, there were significant differences between the housing systems examined. Locomotion activity was significantly greater in the small group housing system Eurovent 625+a-EU (2.3%) than in the furnished cages Eurovent 625A-EU and Aviplus (1.4%). In addition, locomotion activity was significantly greater in groups of 60 hens compared to groups of 40 hens.