Nest box design and nesting material in a deep litter house for laying hens

Abstract

Abstract 1. Preferences of hens for different types of nest box were tested in two deep litter pens, each containing 300 Isabrown laying hens. Four types were offered: traditional wooden nests with litter, metal rollaway nests with plastic liners, wooden rollaway nests with artificial turf and autonests. 2. Most eggs were laid in traditional nests (70% in pen 1, 66% in pen 2). Metal rollaways were the next preferred type. These preferences were confirmed by analysis of records from individual nest boxes, and by observations of hens marked with wing tags. 3. Choice of nesting material was tested in one pen of 370 hens. Traditional nests were provided, containing either wood shavings or a mixture of buckwheat and oat husks. 4. Preferences for type of nesting material were equivocal. The majority of eggs were laid on wood shavings initially, but on buckwheat/oat husks later. Individual hens were inconsistent in their choice. A deep (100 mm) layer of nesting material was preferred to a shallow (25 mm) layer. 5. Individual, wooden nest boxes incorporating buckwheat/oat husk nesting material on a movable belt are probably the most suitable system for automation of egg collection in deep litter houses.