Layer Hens
What are barn-laid eggs?
Barn-laid (or cage-free) eggs, such as those from well-managed barn and aviary systems, are a good alternative to cage eggs, and can provide hens with the opportunity to stretch and flap their wings, nest, perch, dust bathe, and forage. Barn-laid eggs are generally marketed as ‘cage-free’ eggs.
What is induced moulting of layer hens?
Induced moulting in the poultry industry involves artificially forcing hens to moult through manipulating their environment and diet to replicate the natural process of moulting that occurs seasonally in wild birds. This process involves total feed deprivation and/or severe feed restriction for several days to weeks.
How are layer hens farmed in Australia?
Hens are smart, quirky and inquisitive creatures. Descended from jungle fowl, they still possess instincts strongly aligned with seeking shelter in vegetation and roosting up high at night to keep away from predators.
What are the animal welfare issues with poultry slaughter?
Meat chickens and layer hens, the main types of poultry farmed in Australia, are two different breeds of birds and are grown for different purposes. Meat chickens are raised for meat production so have been bred to grow and gain weight very rapidly.
What are the animal welfare issues with pullet training and rearing?
Pullets are young layer hens before they have reached sexual maturity and start laying eggs.
What are the animal welfare issues with housing layer hens in cages?
All layer hen housing systems have advantages and disadvantages, but caged housing systems inherently compromise the welfare of layer hens because of the confinement and behavioural restriction they impose.