Effects of obstructed take-off and landing perches on the flight accuracy of laying hens

Laying hens housed in extensive systems may be at risk of injury when many birds compete for use of the same perch space. Experiments were carried out to determine the space required by laying hens to move between obstructed perches. Eighty Lohmann Brown layer hens were reared in floor pens fitted with perches from 1 day of age. After the peak of lay (25 weeks of age), their ability to jump to and from perches obstructed either by inanimate...