Welfare issues affecting free-range laying hens

Title
Welfare issues affecting free-range laying hens
Publication Date
2017
Author(s)
Campbell, Dana
Lambton, Sarah L
Ruhnke, Isabelle
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5423-9306
Email: iruhnke@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:iruhnke
Weeks, Claire A
Editor
Editor(s): Julie Roberts
Type of document
Book Chapter
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing Limited
Place of publication
Sawston, United Kingdom
Edition
1
Series
Burleigh Dodds Series in Agricultural Science
DOI
10.19103/AS.2016.0012.25
UNE publication id
une:21492
Abstract
Free-range laying hen production systems take a step down a different path in the progression of domestic chicken farming. They take hen groups away from intensive, environmentally controlled, indoor housing and put them back outdoors to provide flocks with more natural, minimally controlled surroundings. Consumers prefer the concept of free-range production, particularly in countries where weather allows outdoor access for most of the year (e.g. Australia, Denmark, the United Kingdom), as these systems are viewed as more natural and ethical (Schröder and McEachern, 2004). Free-range systems are thus rapidly increasing in popularity to meet consumer demand. However, highly productive modern genotypes, selected for cage production, are harder to manage in large flocks and outdoor environments with limited control of environmental conditions. Research into the behaviour, health and welfare of birds in non-cage environments has increased in recent years. Unfortunately, in some cases, a high risk of poor outcomes for hens kept in non-cage and especially free-range conditions has been identified (Fossum et al., 2009; Sherwin et al., 2010; Elson, 2015; Weeks et al., 2016). To sustainably improve free-range housing and management, we must understand how hens behave in these systems, the welfare challenges they face and what modifications will, in practice, adequately address hens' needs.
Link
Citation
Achieving sustainable production of eggs, v.2: Animal welfare and sustainability, p. 99-123
ISBN
9781786760838
9781786760807
9781786760821
Start page
99
End page
123

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