Laying hens’ preferences for nest surface type are affected by enclosure

• Published in: Applied animal behaviour science 2018-04, Vol.201, p.7-14
• Main Authors: Hunniford, M.E., Mason, G.J., Widowski, T.M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal behavior; Animal care; Cages; Curtains; Eggs; Enclosure; Enclosures; Furnished cage; Laying hen; Mats; Nesting; Nesting behaviour; Nests; Place preferences; Plastics; Preference; Surface material
• ISSN: 0168-1591; 1872-9045
• DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2017.12.020

•Hens preferred yellow mesh mats when enclosed with curtains, smooth red mats when open.•Hens changed their nest surface preference when enclosure was modified.•Hens with experience of enclosure had a stronger preference for enclosure.•Enclosed nests are important regardless of surface type or previous experience. The nest surfaces preferred by hens are inconsistent with those typically provided in commercial settings. However, little research has explored hens’ preferences for commercially available nest surfaces. Our objective was to compare hens’ preferences for two such surfaces – red smooth and yellow mesh plastic– either enclosed or unenclosed with curtains. We predicted that enclosed nests would be preferred, but that this may be offset by any preferences hens have for different surface types. After conventional rearing, 996 pullets were placed in 24 furnished cages (FC) at 15 weeks of age (large: 41,296 cm2; small: 20,880 cm2). In Phase 1, each FC had two nests, one with a yellow mesh plastic surface and one with a red smooth plastic surface (3368 cm2). In half of the FCs, both surfaces were enclosed with plastic red curtains (ENCL, n = 12). The remainder had both open surfaces (OPEN, n = 12). In Phase 2, all FCs were subsequently modified at week 28 to have one enclosed and one open surface, allowing us to titrate how much hens preferred surface against enclosure. Preference was inferred from where eggs were laid, the location of sitting, and the amount of time spent on each surface. Egg location was recorded from the first egg to week 36. Sitting behaviour was scan sampled during weeks 25–26 (Phase 1) and 34–35 (Phase 2). Focal hens were selected at week 20 and observed from week 22–24 (Phase 1) and 31–33 (Phase 2). Results were unexpected: in Phase 1, hens laid more eggs on red smooth mats than yellow mesh when they were OPEN (66.8 ± 1.8% vs. 31.2 ± 1.8%; P