Performance and welfare of White Leghorn chicks under different housing systems

The present experiment was conducted on 800 White Leghorn layers chicks distributed into two treatment groups (raised on floor and battery cages) having four replicates each. The chicks were brooded under standard managemental practices for first eight weeks of age. Cage reared chicks weighed more at 42d, but floor reared birds had higher body weight (556.69±16.68 vs. 609.49±6.18g) at 56d of age. Floor reared chicks had higher feed consumption and higher mortality than the cage reared chicks. The mortality (%) was more in floor birds as compared to those in cages (7.5 vs. 4.75%). Significantly higher (P<0.05) fearful response (2.95±0.15 vs.1.45±0.13 sec) and time for first peck (6.35±1.01 vs. 1.51±0.15 sec) was observed in cage birds in response to novel object test than the floor reared birds. Significant differences (P<0.01) was found in the welfare parameters like claw length, gait scoring and tonic immobility of the birds between two system of rearing. It can be concluded, that the white leghorn chicks showed the better welfare status such as fearfulness and body condition, especially when they were floor reared but not with growth and livability parameters during brooding period. However, both the systems had their own advantages and disadvantages in regard to the bird's health and welfare, therefore, a holistic view of performance, behaviour and production may also be taken into account.