Effect of perches in laying cages on welfare and production of hens

1. ISA Brown hens were caged in groups of 4 from 20 to 72 weeks at 675 cm2/bird. A control treatment in conventional cages was compared with 4 treatments involving softwood perches. In deep cages they were located across the front, across the rear and across both; in wide, shallow cages there was one long perch across the front. For half of each treatment perches were circular in cross section, and for half they were rectangular. 2. Time spent...