Influence of a raised slatted area in front of the nest on leg health, mating behaviour and floor eggs in broiler breeders

• Published in: Animal (Cambridge, England) England), 2021-02, Vol.15 (2), p.100109-100109, Article 100109
• Main Authors: van den Oever, A.C.M., Candelotto, L., Kemp, B., Rodenburg, T.B., Bolhuis, J.E., Graat, E.A.M., van de Ven, L.J.F., Guggisberg, D., Toscano, M.J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Chickens; Copulations; Female; Floors and Floorcoverings; Foot pad dermatitis; Housing; Housing, Animal; Ovum; Poultry; Production performance; Reproduction
• ISSN: 1751-7311; 1751-732X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2020.100109

European farms for broiler breeders often have raised slatted areas in front of the nests, but in other regions of the world no raised slatted areas are provided. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a raised slatted area on leg health, mating behaviour and floor laying behaviour. Ten groups of 33 broiler breeder hens and three males were housed in two pen types: with or without a raised slatted area in front of the nests. Each pen had one plastic and one wooden nest. Between 25 and 31 weeks of age, ten marked hens per pen were weighed and assessed weekly on foot pad dermatitis, hock burn and wounds. At the end of week 31, animals were euthanized and bone strength of the tibia and humerus of these individuals was assessed. At 24, 27 and 30 weeks of age, mating behaviour was observed for an hour per pen, noting both numbers of successful and unsuccessful copulations. The number of eggs laid in the nests and on the floor was recorded daily between 20 and 31 weeks of age. Foot pad dermatitis scores were affected by age, but not by pen type. Generally, there were only minor issues with foot pad dermatitis (scores