1. Chicken Welfare Scenarios (Layer type) Stacked Cage Housing System (Flock 1) vs. Free-Ranging/Indoor Housing System (Flock 2)

2. 1-Cage Stacked Cage Housing System (Flock 1)
Research Facility, 500 birds on farm
Layer Hens are kept 1 bird/cage in this house

3. Stacked Cage Housing System (Flock 1)
Roosters housed 1 bird/cage
Stockman has a B.S. in Animal Science and 15 years experience in the poultry industry

4. Free-Ranging/Indoor Housing System (Flock 2)
500 birds on farm; ratio of 1 rooster/10 hens
4-H project farm; 17 yr old member; has had birds for last 4 years

5. Stacked Cage Housing System (Flock 1)
Interventions-
Combs dubbed at 3 days of age, surgical scissors
Minimal beak trimming performed at 3 days of age, hot-blade
Feather pecking – 0%
Cannibalism – 0%

6. Free-Ranging/Indoor Housing System (Flock 2)
Interventions-
Beak trimming – not performed
Comb dubbing – not performed
Feather pecking – noticeable evidence in 10% of flock
Cannibalism – 2% death loss of flock to this (on an annual basis)

7. Stacked Cage Housing System (Flock 1)
Watering cups checked once daily
Fed to NRC requirements, traditional crumbles

8. Free-Ranging/Indoor Housing System (Flock 2)
Waterers checked daily
Birds are fed to NRC requirements, traditional crumbles

9. Stacked Cage Housing System (Flock 1)
Perches not available

10. Free-Ranging/Indoor Housing System (Flock 2)
Perch space
Chicks exposed to perches from week 2 onward

11. Stacked Cage Housing System (Flock 1)
Nest boxes not available
22% of hens exhibit an average of 35 minutes pre-lay pacing
Eggs roll out of cage, collected daily

12. Free-Ranging/Indoor Housing System (Flock 2)
Access to nest boxes
Eggs collected daily

13. Stacked Cage Housing System (Flock 1)
Induced molting once/year; 7-10 days w/o food, access to ground oyster shell
Temperature and ventilation controlled at all times

14. Free-Ranging/Indoor Housing System (Flock 2)
Induced molting once/year; 6-11 days w/o food; access to ground limestone
Temperature and ventilation computer controlled at all times

15. Stacked Cage Housing System (Flock 1)
Chicks raised in traditional pullet growing cages in room with available heat source

16. Free-Ranging/Indoor Housing System (Flock 2)
Chicks raised in brooder pen on floor
Heat lamps available
Free from drafts
Perch access provided at week 2 of age

17. Stacked Cage Housing System (Flock 1) (video)

18. Free-Ranging/Indoor Housing System (Flock 2) (video)

19. Stacked Cage Housing System (Flock 1)
When birds are removed from cages, they are handled by both legs, then carried upright

20. Free-Ranging/Indoor Housing System (Flock 2)
When birds are removed from pen they are typically carried two at a time in a head-down position