Jumping Characteristics of Broiler Breeder Hens at Different Perching Platform Heights

TL;DR

This study examines how broiler breeder hens jump between perching platforms at different heights to improve perch design and hen welfare.

Contribution

The study provides new empirical data on how jump height and direction affect the movement and balance of broiler breeder hens.

Findings

Higher jump heights increased take-off latency and jump duration, especially for downward jumps.

Hens regained balance faster after landing from higher jumps.

Downward jumps showed greater horizontal displacement and smaller body and head angles compared to upward jumps.

Abstract

Broiler breeder hens raised in natural mating systems often experience excessive mating, which can negatively impact their welfare. Providing structures such as perching platforms may help alleviate this issue. However, limited research has been conducted on designing safe and functional perching platforms. Understanding how hens jump between perching platforms is essential for optimizing their design. In this study, we observed and analyzed voluntary jumps from different heights to assess movement patterns. The results showed that as the jump height increased, the hens took longer to initiate and complete their jumps, particularly for downward movements. However, they regained balance more quickly after landing from higher jumps. The wing movements varied with both the height and jump direction, with downward jumps exhibiting greater horizontal displacement and smaller body and head angles compared to upward jumps. These findings provide important insights into how broiler breeder hens move and balance themselves when jumping. The results can help improve perch design, ensuring better safety and comfort for hens in commercial poultry systems, ultimately enhancing their welfare.

Excessive mating is a significant welfare concern for floor-reared broiler breeder hens. Perches have shown potential as a solution to mitigate this issue; however, limited research is available on the design parameters of perches. Understanding the jumping characteristics of broiler breeder hens is crucial for designing safe and functional perches. In this study, perching platforms were selected to ensure the safety of hens during jumps. Videos of hens performing voluntary jumps from varying heights (35, 40, 45, and 50 cm) were analyzed using Tracker (version 6.2.0) software. The results showed that the take-off latency (TL) and jump duration (JD) increased with height increases, with downward jumps exhibiting a 66.1% and 10.7% higher TL and JD than those of upward jumps (based on mean values), respectively. However, the latency to achieve balance (LAB) decreased by 76.5% during downward jumps (based on mean values). During upward jumps, both the wing-beating frequencies during the jump (WBJD) and after landing (WBL) increased with height increases. The interaction between the height and direction of jumping significantly affected the horizontal displacement (body) and angles (body and head) during the JL phase (p < 0.05). The body horizontal displacement during downward jumps was up to 70.3% higher than that during upward jumps (based on mean values), while the downward body angles were more minor than those during upward jumps. The lowest body and head angles of downward jumps were 42.2° ± 5.4° and 33.4° ± 5.6°, respectively. The results related to TL and LAB are expected to provide guidance for designing appropriate heights in perching facilities. Meanwhile, the findings on horizontal displacement and jump angles offer valuable insights for the safe distance and angle design between perching platforms.

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