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Behaviour of free-range laying hens in distinct outdoor environments

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

H Larsen ,
G Cronin ,
CL Smith ,
P Hemsworth  and
J-L Rault
H Larsen
Affiliation:
Animal Welfare Science Centre, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
G Cronin
Affiliation:
Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, 425 Werombi Rd, Camden, NSW 2570, Australia
CL Smith
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, 209 Culloden Rd, Marsfield, NSW 2109, Australia
P Hemsworth
Affiliation:
Animal Welfare Science Centre, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
J-L Rault*
Affiliation:
Animal Welfare Science Centre, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: jl.rault@gmail.com
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Abstract

The outdoor range in free-range, egg-production systems contains features that aim to promote the performance of natural behaviours. It is unclear what features of the range laying hens prefer and how these influence hen behaviour. We hypothesised that hens would demonstrate a preference for features of the environment in which their ancestor evolved, such as relatively dense vegetation, within the outdoor range and that the behavioural time budget of hens will differ between distinct environments. Characteristics of the outdoor range in one free-range commercial egg farm were mapped and four distinct environments (‘locations’) were identified based on ground substrate and cover (Wattle Tree, Gum Tree, Bare Earth and Sapling). The number of hens accessing each location and behavioural time budget of these hens was recorded over a three-week period during the southern hemisphere summer (January-February). Hens showed a clear preference for the Wattle Tree and Gum Tree locations; however, a significant interaction between location and time of day suggested that the hens’ preference for different locations changed throughout the day. The most common behaviours displayed by hens were foraging, preening, locomotion, resting and vigilance, and most behaviours were influenced by the interaction between location and time of day. Overall, a wider variety of behaviours were performed in the highly preferred environments, but not all behaviours were performed equally within each environment throughout the day. Understanding what features hens prefer in the outdoor range and how this influences the performance of natural behaviours is important in promoting the welfare of hens in free-range production.

Keywords

animal welfarelaying hennatural behaviourpreferencerangeshelter
Type
Articles
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 26 , Issue 3 , August 2017 , pp. 255 - 264
Copyright
© 2017 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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