Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-tf8b9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T11:28:11.950Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Factors affecting ranging behaviour in commercial free-range hens

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 January 2016

I.C. PETTERSSON ,
R. FREIRE  and
C.J. NICOL
I.C. PETTERSSON*
Affiliation:
Animal Behaviour & Welfare Group, School of Veterinary Sciences, Bristol University, Langford House, Langford, Bristol, BS40 5DU, United Kingdom
R. FREIRE
Affiliation:
School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, LMB 588, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, Australia
C.J. NICOL
Affiliation:
Animal Behaviour & Welfare Group, School of Veterinary Sciences, Bristol University, Langford House, Langford, Bristol, BS40 5DU, United Kingdom
*
Corresponding author: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

Many studies have assessed use of the outdoor ‘range’ area on free-range laying farms, and have revealed that percentage range use at any one time rarely exceeds 50% of the flock, and is sometimes below 10%. What constitutes a ‘good’ range use is difficult to determine without better knowledge of ranging bout lengths under ideal conditions. Well documented factors that affect percentage range use include prevailing weather, flock size and shelter on the range. Other factors such as pophole design, internal and external stocking density and system design appear to play a role although their effects are not as clear and more research would be valuable to truly understand their relevance. Factors affecting bird distribution on the range are also reviewed.

Keywords

laying henfree-rangerange useranging behaviourshelterflock sizespatial distribution
Type
Reviews
Information
World's Poultry Science Journal , Volume 72 , Issue 1 , March 2016 , pp. 137 - 150
Copyright
Copyright © World's Poultry Science Association 2016 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

ALM, M., WALL, H., HOLM, L., WICHMAN, A., PALME, R. and TAUSON, R. (2015) Welfare and performance in layers following temporary exclusion from the litter area on introduction to the layer facility. Poultry Science 94: 565-573.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
APPLEBY, M.C. (2004) What causes crowding? Effects of space, facilities and group size on behaviour, with particular reference to furnished cages for hens. Animal Welfare 13: 313-320.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
APPLEBY, M.C. and HUGHES, B.O. (1991) Welfare of laying hens in cages and alternative systems - environmental, physical and behavioral-aspects. World's Poultry Science Journal 47: 109-128.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
APPLEBY, M.C., HUGHES, B.O. and HOGARTH, G.S. (1989) Behaviour of laying hens in a deep litter house. British Poultry Science 30: 545-553.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
BEIC (2013) Code of Practice for Lion Eggs, Version 7. British Egg Industry Council, London, UK.Google Scholar
BESTMAN, M.W.P. and WAGENAAR, J.P. (2003) Farm level factors associated with feather pecking in organic laying hens. Livestock Production Science 80: 133-140.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
BUBIER, N.E. and BRADSHAW, R.H. (1998) Movement of flocks of laying hens in and out of the hen house in four free range systems. British Poultry Science 39: S5-S6.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
CARMICHAEL, N.L., WALKER, A.W. and HUGHES, B.O. (1999) Laying hens in large necks in a perchery system: influence of stocking density on location, use of resources and behaviour. British Poultry Science 40: 165-176.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
COLLIAS, N.E. (1987) The vocal repertoire of the red junglefowl: a spectrographic classification and the code of communication. The Condor 89: 510-524.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
COLLINS, L.M., ASHER, L., PFEIFFER, D.U., BROWNE, W.J. and NICOL, C.J. (2011) Clustering and synchrony in laying hens: The effect of environmental resources on social dynamics. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 129: 43-53.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
COMMISSION REGULATION EC/589/2008 (2008) laying down detailed rules for implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 as regards marketing standards for eggs. Official Journal of the European Union No. L163, 0006-0023.Google Scholar
COOPER, J. and HODGES, H. (2010) Effect of tree cover on ranging behaviour of free-range hens. Proceedings of the 44th Congress of the International Society for Applied Ethology, Uppsala, p. 75.Google Scholar
COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 1999/74/EC (1999) laying down minimum standards for the protection of laying hens. Official journal of the European Communities No. L203, 0053-0057.Google Scholar
D'EATH, R.B. and KEELING, L.J. (2003) Social discrimination and aggression by laying hens in large groups: from peck orders to social tolerance. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 84: 197-212.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
DAWKINS, M. (1985) Cage height preference and use in battery-kept hens. Veterinary Record 116: 345-347.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
FRASER, D. (2003) Assessing animal welfare at the farm and group level: The interplay of science and values. Animal Welfare 12: 433-443.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
FREIRE, R., WILKINS, L.J., SHORT, F. and NICOL, C.J. (2003) Behaviour and welfare of individual laying hens in a non-cage system. British Poultry Science 44: 22-29.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
GEBHARDT-HENRICH, S.G., TOSCANO, M.J. and FROEHLICH, E.K.F. (2014) Use of outdoor ranges by laying hens in different sized flocks. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 155: 74-81.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
GILANI, A.M., KNOWLES, T.G. and NICOL, C.J. (2014) Factors affecting ranging behaviour in young and adult laying hens. British Poultry Science 55: 127-135.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
GREEN, L.E., LEWIS, K., KIMPTON, A. and NICOL, C.J. (2000) Cross-sectional study of the prevalence of feather pecking in laying hens in alternative systems and its associations with management and disease. Veterinary Record 147: 233-238.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
GRIGOR, P.N., HUGHES, B.O. and APPLEBY, M.C. (1995a) Effects of regular handling and exposure to an outside area on subsequent fearfulness and dispersal in domestic hens. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 44: 47-55.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
GRIGOR, P.N., HUGHES, B.O. and APPLEBY, M.C. (1995b) Emergence and dispersal behaviour in domestic hens: effects of social rank and novelty of an outdoor area. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 45: 97-108.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
GRIGOR, P.N., HUGHES, B.O. and APPLEBY, M.C. (1995c) Social inhibition of movement in domestic hens. Animal Behaviour 49: 1381-1388.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
GUNNARSSON, S., YNGVESSON, J., KEELING, L.J. and FORKMAN, B. (2000) Rearing without early access to perches impairs the spatial skills of laying hens. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 67: 217-228.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
HARLANDER-MATAUSCHEK, A., FELSENSTEIN, K., NIEBUHR, K. and TROXLER, J. (2006) Influence of pop hole dimensions on the number of laying hens outside on the range. British Poultry Science 47: 131-134.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
HARPER, G. and HENSON, S. (2001) Consumer Concerns about Animal Welfare and the Impact on Food Choice. EU FAIR CT98-3678 Final Report. http://www.londonpressservice.org.uk/haeu/20131031020146/http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/welfare/research/fair_project.pdf. Accessed 22/09/15.Google Scholar
HEGELUND, L., SORENSEN, J.T., KJAER, J.B. and KRISTENSEN, I.S. (2005) Use of the range area in organic egg production systems: effect of climatic factors, flock size, age and artificial cover. British Poultry Science 46: 1-8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
HIRT, H., HÖRDEGEN, P. and ZELTNER, E. (2000) Laying hen husbandry: group size and use of hen-runs. Proceedings of the 13th International IFOAM Scientific Conference, Basel, p. 363.Google Scholar
HUTCHINSON, J.C.D. and SYKES, A.H. (1953) Physiological acclimatization of fowls to a hot humid environment. Journal of Agricultural Science 43: 294-322.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
JENSEN, P. and TOATES, F. (1993) Who needs ‘behavioural needs’? Motivational aspects of the needs of animals. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 37: 161-181.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
JONES, R. (1977) Repeated exposure of the domestic chick to a novel environment: effects on behavioural responses. Behavioural Processes 2: 163-173.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
KEELING, L.J. (1995) Spacing behaviour and an ethological approach to assessing optimum space allocations for groups of laying hens. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 44: 171-186.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
KEELING, L.J., HUGHES, B.O. and DUN, P. (1988) Performance of free-range laying hens in a polythene house and their behavior on range. Farm Building Progress 94: 21-28.Google Scholar
LAMBTON, S.L., KNOWLES, T.G., YORKE, C. and NICOL, C.J. (2010) The risk factors affecting the development of gentle and severe feather pecking in loose housed laying hens. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 123: 32-42.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
LAY, D.C., FULTON, R.M., HESTER, P.Y., KARCHER, D.M., KJAER, J.B., MENCH, J.A., MULLENS, B.A., NEWBERRY, R.C., NICOL, C.J., O'SULLIVAN, N.P. and PORTER, R.E. (2011) Hen welfare in different housing systems. Poultry Science 90: 278-294.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
LENTFER, T.L., GEBHARDT-HENRICH, S.G., FRÖHLICH, E.K.F. and VON BORELL, E. (2013) Nest use is influenced by the positions of nests and drinkers in aviaries. Poultry Science 92: 1433-1442.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
MAHBOUB, H.D.H., MÜLLER, J. and VON BORELL, E. (2004) Outdoor use, tonic immobility, heterophil/lymphocyte ratio and feather condition in free-range laying hens of different genotype. British Poultry Science 45: 738-744.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
MAURER, V., HERTZBERG, H., HECKENDORN, F., HÖRDEGEN, P. and KOLLER, M. (2013) Effects of paddock management on vegetation, nutrient accumulation, and internal parasites in laying hens. The Journal of Applied Poultry Research 22: 334-343.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
NAGLE, T.A.D. and GLATZ, P.C. (2012) Free Range Hens Use the Range More When the Outdoor Environment Is Enriched. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences 25: 584-591.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
NAKARMI, A.D., TANG, L. and and XIN, H. (2014) Automated Tracking and Behavior Quantification of Laying Hens Using 3D Computer Vision and Radio Frequency Identification Technologies. Transactions of the ASABE 57: 1455.Google Scholar
NASR, M.A.F., MURRELL, J., WILKINS, L.J. and NICOL, C.J. (2012) The effect of keel fractures on egg-production parameters, mobility and behaviour in individual laying hens. Animal Welfare 21: 127-135.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
NICOL, C.J., POTZSCH, C., LEWIS, K. and GREEN, L.E. (2003) Matched concurrent case-control study of risk factors for feather pecking in hens on free-range commercial farms in the UK. British Poultry Science 44: 515-523.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
NICOL, C.J., CAPLEN, G., EDGAR, J. and BROWNE, W.J. (2009) Associations between welfare indicators and environmental choice in laying hens. Animal Behaviour 78: 413-424.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
ODÉN, K., KEELING, L.J. and ALGERS, B. (2002) Behaviour of laying hens in two types of aviary systems on 25 commercial farms in Sweden. British Poultry Science 43: 169-181.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
PAGEL, M. and DAWKINS, M.S. (1997) Peck orders and group size in laying hens:futures contracts' for non-aggression. Behavioural Processes 40: 13-25.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
RAULT, J.L., VAN DE WOUW, A. and HEMSWORTH, P. (2013) Fly the coop! Vertical structures influence the distribution and behaviour of laying hens in an outdoor range. Australian Veterinary Journal 91: 423-426.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
RICHARDS, G.J., WILKINS, L.J., KNOWLES, T.G., BOOTH, F., TOSCANO, M.J., NICOL, C.J. and BROWN, S.N. (2011) Continuous monitoring of pop hole usage by commercially housed free-range hens throughout the production cycle. Veterinary Record 169: 338.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
RICHARDS, G.J., WILKINS, L.J., KNOWLES, T.G., BOOTH, F., TOSCANO, M.J., NICOL, C.J. and BROWN, S.N. (2012) Pop hole use by hens with different keel fracture status monitored throughout the laying period. Veterinary Record 170: 494-494.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
RSPCA (2013) RSPCA welfare standards for laying hens. http://science.rspca.org.uk/sciencegroup/farmanimals/standards/layinghens. Accessed 31/07/15.Google Scholar
SCOTT, G.B., LAMBE, N.R. and HITCHCOCK, D. (1997) Ability of laying hens to negotiate horizontal perches at different heights, separated by different angles. British Poultry Science 38: 48-54.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
SHERWIN, C.M., NASR, M.A.F., GALE, E., PETEK, M., STAFFORD, K., TURP, M. and COLES, G.C. (2013) Prevalence of nematode infection and faecal egg counts in free-range laying hens: relations to housing and husbandry. British Poultry Science 54: 12-23.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
STEENFELDT, S. and NIELSEN, B.L. (2015) Welfare of organic laying hens kept at different indoor stocking densities in a multi-tier aviary system. I: egg laying, and use of veranda and outdoor area. Animal: doi:10.1017/S1751731115000713.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
VANHONACKER, F., VAN POUCKE, E., TUYTTENS, F. and VERBEKE, W. (2010) Citizens' Views on Farm Animal Welfare and Related Information Provision: Exploratory Insights from Flanders, Belgium. Journal of Agricultural & Environmental Ethics 23: 551-569.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
WEEKS, C.A. and NICOL, C.J. (2006) Behavioural needs, priorities and preferences of laying hens. World's Poultry Science Journal 62: 296-307.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
WHAY, H.R., MAIN, D.C.J., GREEN, L.E., HEAVEN, G., HOWELL, H., MORGAN, M., PEARSON, A. and WEBSTER, A.J.F. (2007) Assessment of the behaviour and welfare of laying hens on free-range units. Veterinary Record 161: 119-128.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
WILKINS, L.J., BROWN, S.N., ZIMMERMAN, P.H., LEEB, C. and NICOL, C.J. (2004) Investigation of palpation as a method for determining the prevalence of keel and furculum damage in laying hens. Veterinary Record 155: 547-549.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
WILKINS, L.J., MCKINSTRY, J.L., AVERY, N.C., KNOWLES, T.G., BROWN, S.N., TARLTON, J. and NICOL, C.J. (2011) Influence of housing system and design on bone strength and keel bone fractures in laying hens. Veterinary Record 169: 414.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
ZELTNER, E. and HIRT, H. (2003) Effect of artificial structuring on the use of laying hen runs in a free-range system. British Poultry Science 44: 533-537.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
ZELTNER, E. and HIRT, H. (2008) Factors involved in the improvement of the use of hen runs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 114: 395-408.CrossRefGoogle Scholar