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The effect of keel fractures on egg-production parameters, mobility and behaviour in individual laying hens

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

MAF Nasr ,
J Murrell ,
LJ Wilkins  and
CJ Nicol
MAF Nasr*
Affiliation:
School of Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford House, Langford BS40 5DU, UK Department of Animal Health Development, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Sharkia, Egypt
J Murrell
Affiliation:
School of Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford House, Langford BS40 5DU, UK
LJ Wilkins
Affiliation:
School of Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford House, Langford BS40 5DU, UK
CJ Nicol
Affiliation:
School of Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford House, Langford BS40 5DU, UK
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: [email protected]
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Abstract

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A majority of laying hens fracture their keel bones during the laying cycle. It is not easy for a farmer to identify hens with fractures and hen survival rate seems high. Thus, the effect of both recent and healed fractures on bird welfare is unclear. We aimed to investigate the impact of these keel-bone fractures on hens’ production and behaviour. The egg production, mobility and behaviour of Lohmann Brown hens without keel fractures were compared with that of hens with old healed fractures of varying severity. In addition, the keel-bone strength and body temperature around the fracture site was measured for each group. Hens with no fractures laid more eggs and had a higher egg-quality score (derived from measures of egg weight, egg surface area, shell weight, shell percentage and shell density). These hens had the highest keel area temperature, strongest keel bones, accessed perches more frequently and took a shorter time to negotiate a walkway obstacle test and to fly down from a raised perch. Hens without keel fractures were better in all investigated parameters than hens with keel fractures, indicating a detrimental effect of fractures on both welfare and economic return.

Keywords

animal welfarebehaviouregg productionkeel fracturelaying henmobility
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 21 , Issue 1 , February 2012 , pp. 127 - 135
Copyright
© 2012 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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