Commercial Free-Range Laying Hens' Preferences for Shelters with Different Sunlight Filtering Percentages

Laying Hens: Why Smothering and Not Surviving?-A Literature Review

The proliferation of rearing systems providing opportunities for birds to engage in natural behaviors can trigger behavioral repertoires that when not manageable compromise animal welfare and the economic viability of the flock. Smothering in laying hens has long been perceived as "natural" or the result of hysteria among birds in the flock. However, the current literature has recognized smothering as an abnormal outcome with the potential to result in significant losses in cage-free poultry systems. Recent studies have specifically aimed to categorize the organization of smothering behavior and highlight its potential causes and consequences. In this study, literature review and bibliographic mapping, drawing on published articles and engagement with poultry farmers through extension and rural technical assistance, were employed. The findings indicate that smothering is a behavior triggered by factors related to the environment in which the laying hens are kept. This study concludes that there is a critical need for more rigorous and detailed research to elucidate the nuances of avian behavioral physiology and assess the impact of production systems on animal welfare and the economic impacts on the flock. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of bird behavior in high-production environments and provides practical insights for the poultry industry.

Climate change and broiler production

Climate change has emerged as a significant occurrence that adversely affects broiler production, especially in tropical climates. Broiler chickens, bred for rapid growth and high meat production, rely heavily on optimal environmental conditions to achieve their genetic potential. However, climate change disrupts these conditions and poses numerous challenges for broiler production. One of the primary impacts of climate change on broiler production is the decreased ability of birds to attain their genetic potential for faster growth. Broilers are bred to possess specific genetic traits that enable them to grow rapidly and efficiently convert feed into meat. However, in tropical climates affected by climate change, the consequent rise in daily temperatures, increased humidity and altered precipitation patterns create an unfavourable environment for broilers. These conditions impede their growth and development, preventing them from reaching their maximum genetic influence, which is crucial for achieving desirable production outcomes. Furthermore, climate change exacerbates the existing challenges faced by broiler production systems. Higher feed costs impact the industry's economic viability and limit the availability of quality nutrition for the birds, further hampering their growth potential. In addition to feed scarcity, climate change also predisposes broiler chickens to thermal stress. This review collates existing information on climate change and its impact on broiler production, including nutrition, immune function, health and disease susceptibility. It also summarizes the challenges of broiler production under hot and humid climate conditions with different approaches to ameliorating the effects of harsh climatic conditions in poultry.

Easier said than done! Organic farmers consider free-ranging important for laying hen welfare but outdoor areas need more shelter - important gaps between research and practice

1. The aim of the present study was to investigate the design and management of free-range areas and their use by birds on commercial organic laying hen farms in Sweden and to document farmers' perspectives on outdoor access for poultry.2. Eleven Swedish organic laying hen farms were visited. The farmers were interviewed about general farm management, bird health and behaviour and outdoor access. The free-range areas were assessed in terms of proportion covered by protective (high) vegetation and any artificial shelters provided. The numbers of hens ranging at different distances from the house were recorded twice during the day.3. The outdoor area within 250m from the house contained 0-5% vegetation cover on six of the farms and at least 80% pasture on seven farms. On 10 farms, no more than 13% of the flock was observed outdoors. Of the hens observed in the free-range area, the median proportion ranging within 20m from the house or veranda per observation event was 99% (IQR=55-100%), confirming reports by the farmers.4. Free-range access was considered important by all farmers, primarily for welfare reasons and most agreed that protective vegetation cover and/or artificial shelters were important in encouraging free-ranging. However, there was marked variation among the farmers in their suggestions on how to attract hens outside.

The Potential of Understory Production Systems to Improve Laying Hen Welfare

Simple Summary

Non-cage farming is gradually becoming the mainstream mode of poultry farming worldwide, which has led to concerns regarding the welfare of laying hens in China. Under huge pressure for the supply of eggs, China, with relatively insufficient land resources, is highly dependent on cage systems, thus posing significant challenges related to animal welfare. In the context of this dilemma, China’s abundant woodland resources provide a means to improve the welfare of laying hens, in particular, providing a wide living space for laying hens to express their natural behaviours, such as foraging and reproduction. At the same time, this profitable farming model has been welcomed and supported by farmers in some areas of China, and is gradually being promoted, which may provide a template and confidence for China and other countries to address the challenges of keeping hens in non-cage systems in order to improve animal welfare.

Abstract

The welfare of laying hens in cage systems is of increasing concern. Represented by the European Union’s ‘End the Cage Age’ initiative, more and more countries have advocated cage-free farming. China, an important country for poultry farming and consumption in the world, is highly dependent on cage systems and lacks confidence in alternative (e.g., free-range) systems. In this context, using China’s abundant woodland resources (including natural forests, plantations, and commercial forests) to facilitate the management of laying hens in a free-range environment may provide highly promising welfare improvement programs. On the basis of the Five Freedoms, we assess the welfare status of understory laying hen management systems with reference to the behavioural needs and preferences of laying hens and the EU standards for free-range and organic production (highest animal welfare standards in the world). The results show that the considered systems meet or even exceed these standards, in terms of key indicators such as outdoor and indoor stocking density, outdoor activity time, and food and drug use. Specifically, the systems provide sufficient organic food for laying hens without using antibiotics. They allow laying hens to avoid beak trimming, as well as to express nesting, foraging, perching, reproductive, dustbathing and other priority behaviours. The presence of roosters and higher use of woodland space allow the laying hens to achieve better feather and bone conditions, thus reducing stress and fear damage. Notably, the predation problem is not yet considered significant. Second, there is evidence that understory laying hen systems are profitable and have been welcomed and supported by farmers and governments in the southwest, south, and north of China. However, whether it can be scaled up is uncertain, and further research is needed. In addition, laying hens in this management system face various risks, such as foot injury, parasitism, and high dependence on consumer markets, which must be considered. Overall, agro-forestry, or accurately, understory poultry raising, provides opportunities and possibilities for free-range laying hens and welfare improvement in China and other countries.

Welfare issues and potential solutions for laying hens in free range and organic production systems: A review based on literature and interviews

In free-range and organic production systems, hens can make choices according to their needs and desires, which is in accordance with welfare definitions. Nonetheless, health and behavioral problems are also encountered in these systems. The aim of this article was to identify welfare challenges observed in these production systems in the EU and the most promising solutions to overcome these challenges. It is based on a review of published literature and research projects complemented by interviews with experts. We selected EU specific information for welfare problems, however, the selected literature regarding solutions is global. Free range use may increase the risk of infection by some bacteria, viruses and parasites. Preventive methods include avoiding contamination thanks to biosecurity measures and strengthening animals' natural defenses against these diseases which can be based on nutritional means with new diet components such as insect-derived products, probiotics and prebiotics. Phytotherapy and aromatherapy can be used as preventive and curative medicine and vaccines as alternatives to antibiotics and pesticides. Bone quality in pullets and hens prevents keel deviations and is favored by exercise in the outdoor range. Free range use also lead to higher exposure to variable weather conditions and predators, therefore shadow, fences and guard animals can be used to prevent heat stress and predation respectively. Granting a free range provides opportunities for the expression of many behaviors and yet many hens usually stay close to the house. Providing the birds with trees, shelters or attractive plants can increase range use. Small flock sizes, early experiences of enrichment and personality traits have also been found to enhance range use. Severe feather pecking can occur in free range production systems, although flocks using the outdoor area have better plumage than indoors. While many prevention strategies are facilitated in free range systems, the influence of genetics, prenatal and nutritional factors in free range hens still need to be investigated. This review provides information about practices that have been tested or still need to be explored and this information can be used by stakeholders and researchers to help them evaluate the applicability of these solutions for welfare improvement.

Relationship between sunlight and range use of commercial free-range hens in Australia

In Australia, summer brings intense, bright sunlight with high ultraviolet (UV) radiation and hot temperatures, which might impact free-range hens’ ranging outside. To determine how range use was correlated with different sunlight variables and weather factors, a study was carried out on three commercial free-range layer farms during the summer/autumn period (December-May) across diverse regions of Australia in Tasmania (TAS), Queensland (QLD), and Western Australia (WA). Hens’ range distribution was determined by counting the number of hens in the direct sunlight (‘sun’) or ‘cloud’ and shaded areas (‘sun-shade’ or ‘cloud-shade’, in sunny or cloudy conditions, respectively) using image snapshots taken at 30 min intervals from video recordings of a portion of one shed comprising 20,000–30,000 hens on each farm during the production phase of the laying cycle. The solar radiation spectrum [UV radiation (UV_AB) (288–432 nm), photosynthetically active radiation (PAR; visible light) (400–700 nm), and total solar radiation (TSR) (285 nm-3000 nm)] and weather data (ambient temperature and relative humidity) were recorded through an on-site weather station. Data were analysed separately due to discrepancies between the farms’ layouts. The effects of time of day and months on range use were analysed using General Linear Models in JMP^® 16.0 and the relationship of sunlight and weather variables with hens’ distribution in ‘sun’/’sun-shade’ and ‘cloud’/’cloud-shade’ in sunny and cloudy conditions respectively was determined by fitting linear ridge regression models using the ‘lmridge’ package in R. Overall, the time of day and month had significant effects on hens’ distribution on the range (all p < 0.0001). Hens’ range occupancy in the ‘sun’ decreased during the midday period with gradual increases in the late afternoon to evening, and the opposite pattern in the ‘sun-shade’. A linear increase in the number of hens on the range over the months indicated the seasonal effects on hen ranging patterns. Temperature, UV_AB and PAR were the most important factors for discouraging hens’ range use in the ‘sun’ suggesting free-range systems in Australia should be designed to account for the extreme sunlight using adequate shade for optimum ranging across summer.