Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-2025

Publication Title

animals

Volume

15

Publisher

MDPI

Abstract

Laying hens are often housed in environments that restrict movement, which may contribute to bone fragility and decreased welfare. These confined environments, such as conventional cage systems, limit exercise and result in poor skeletal development. This study investigates the impact of exercise opportunities on bone health in laying hens by comparing the tibiotarsi and humeri bone characteristics in enriched and unenriched housing environments. A total of 200 hens were housed in pens (20 birds/pen) from 0 to 40 weeks of age. Five pens, which served as the experimental group, were equipped with multi-tier perches and ledges, providing exercise opportunities. In comparison, the remaining five pens, the control group, offered floor-only environments without enrichment. The enriched housing system in the experimental group was designed to allow hens to engage in natural behaviors such as perching and movement, promoting bone development through physical activity. Bone mineral density (BMD), bone structure, and strength were analyzed as parameters of bone health of the tibiotarsi and humeri regions. These measurements provide insights into how exercise affects skeletal integrity in laying hens. The study aims to determine whether exercise opportunities provided through environmental enrichment positively affect bone health in laying hens, potentially influencing poultry management practices for improved welfare and productivity. The results will inform best practices for enhancing the welfare and productivity of laying hens in commercial poultry systems.

Comments

Copyright: © 2025 by the authors. Submitted for possible open access publication under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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