Let there be light: Artificial light cues improve early life ramp use of laying hen chicks in a commercial aviary
Alex Johny, Dominik Guggisberg, Michael Jeffery Toscano, Ariane Stratmann

TL;DR
Artificial light cues encourage young laying hens to use ramps more in a commercial setting, promoting vertical movement without affecting bone strength.
Contribution
This study validates the use of artificial light cues in a commercial setting to enhance early-life ramp use in laying hen chicks.
Findings
Birds in the LED group used ramps more when the light cues were on compared to when they were off.
The LED group showed higher ramp use than the control group during the observation period.
No differences in bone biomechanical properties were found between the LED and control groups.
Abstract
In rearing aviaries, the provision of ramps has been found to facilitate the early utilization of elevated structures and increase inter-tier transitions. To maximize the welfare benefits associated with ramp use during early life, we investigated whether a moving light cue could increase early-life ramp use in laying hen chicks and subsequently improve bone biomechanical properties at a later age. The light cue was initially developed and tested in experimental settings, and this study aimed to validate the results from the experimental setting in a commercial setting. A total of 4800 Dekalb white birds were housed in eight pens (600 birds/pen) from one until 17 weeks of age (WoA) in a semi-commercial rearing barn. Ramps were provided in all pens, with half of the pens equipped with LED strips that provided intermittent light cues throughout the day (LED group), while the other half…
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Taxonomy
TopicsAnimal Nutrition and Physiology · Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies · Avian ecology and behavior
