THE WELFARE EVALUATION OF LAYING HENS REARED WITH ALTERNATIVE HOUSING SYSTEMS

Hens housed in battery cages are more concentrated per surface unit (450 cm2/bird). Associated to this breeding system are economic, hygienic and healthy advantages. However, the battery cage housing of laying hens is strongly criticised for the poor bird\u2019s \u201cquality of life\u201d. For this reason EU regulations will exclude the use of battery cages in the near future. Several papers have emphasised that in any particular system there are certain specific aspects, which are critical to the welfare of birds housed in it (Appleby and Hughes, 1991). However, the choice between alternative husbandry systems is difficult as economics have to be taken into account. The purpose of the current paper is to assess the effect of three different housing systems on the relative well being of hens