The Litter and Wire System of Housing for Laying Hens

Extract

The litter and wire system of housing for laying hens is a compromise between an all litter system (maximum stocking density 7 birds/m²) and the perchery system (maximum stocking density 25 birds/m²).The wire areas are usually constructed over a droppings pit.The current EC Egg Marketing Regulations allow a proportion of the wire area to be Included as perching area and this permits the stocking density to be increased to 11.7 birds/m², as long as a minimum of 53% of the floor area is wire.

In 2 studies at Gleadthorpe between 1990-92 the laying performance, behaviour and welfare of laying hens in a litter and wire system were evaluated. The pen, with a floor area of 10.0m x 7.67m contained 3 areas of wood shavings litter. The litter areas were separated longitudinally by two, 250 mm high, raised platforms of wire mesh built over a droppings pit. The wire mesh covered 57% of the floor area. Chain feeder and nipple drinker lines were positioned over the wire area. Each bird had 95 mm of feeder space and nipple drinkers were provided at a ratio of 1 per 6 birds.Two tiers of “Astroturf” lined, rear roll-away nestboxes were provided, one per 5.9 birds along each of the longest sides of the unit. During the first month of lay, nest boxes were “managed” to discourage overnight roosting.