Studies on the Housing Density of the Fowl

Abstract

About twenty years have passed since the cage system for the layer was introduced into Japan. A high percentage of layers operation are utilizing cage system as a method of housing the bird. But there are a few reports concerning the effect of cage size and number of bird per cage. This study was done to obtain information of the effect of cage size and bird density in the cage on the performance of egg production type pullets.A most popullar individual laying cage size in Japan, is about 24cm width, 39cm depth and 40cm height.A total 249 commercial strain pullets (Babcock B 300) were confined in cage at 120 days of age under five treatments: birds were put in 18cm cage individually (Treatment 1), in 24cm cage individually (Treatment 2), two birds to 24cm cage (Treatment 3), two birds in 30cm cage (Treatment 4) and three birds in 48cm cage (Treatment 5). All cages were 39cm depth and 40cm height. Birds were debeaked by cutting off their both mandibles. Feeding experiment was conducted over the one year from 120 to 500 days of age.There were no differences in days to 50% egg production, percent of egg production on a hen day basis from 150 to 500 days of age, average number of eggs of survival hens and average egg weight among the treatments. Feed conversions of Treatment 4 and 5 were a little higher than other treatments, because of much feed intake. Mortality did not increased and cannibalism in high density treatment were not observed. Percent of cracked, brocken and stained shell egg were not differrent among the treatments.These results suggested the possibility of making higher housing density of cage laying house than that common in Japan.