Effects of cage shape, colony size, floor area and cannibalism preventatives on laying performance

Abstract

Wire cages of variable width and depth, with a floor slope of 1:12, were used in 2 experiments to study the effects of cage depth, feeding space (= cage width), floor area, colony size and 2 methods of controlling cannibalism in White Leghorn .times. Australorp laying hens. The least floor area (0.035 m2/bird) depressed production in 2-bird cages. Floor area had little effect on the performance of larger colonies. Birds in colonies of 3, 4 or 6 laid and survived equally well when feeding space/bird and floor area/bird were constant. Production per hen d [day] and food intake were higher, but return on estimated capital outlay was lower, with 102 mm than with 76 mm feeding space/bird when colony size and floor area/bird were constant. Production and food intake of birds which were not treated to prevent cannibalism declined and mortality increased as cage depth increased from 385-915 mm concomitantly with increasing colony size from 2-7 birds and decreasing feeding space from 152-43 mm/bird. Increasing cage depth did not increase the proportion of cracked eggs. Mortality was higher among birds fitted with plastic spectacles than among debeaked birds.