Physical Health Problems and Environmental Challenges Influence Balancing Behaviour in Laying Hens

With rising public concern for animal welfare, many major food chains and restaurants are changing their policies, strictly buying their eggs from non-cage producers. However, with the additional space in these cage-free systems to perform natural behaviours and movements comes the risk of injury. We evaluated the ability to maintain balance in adult laying hens with health problems (footpad dermatitis, keel damage, poor wing feather cover; n = 15) using a series of environmental challenges and compared such abilities with those of healthy birds (n = 5). Environmental challenges consisted of visual and spatial constraints, created using a head mask, perch obstacles, and static and swaying perch states. We hypothesized that perch movement, environmental challenges, and diminished physical health would negatively impact perching performance demonstrated as balance (as measured by time spent on perch and by number of falls of the perch) and would require more exaggerated correctional movements.We measured perching stability whereby each bird underwent eight 30-second trials on a static and swaying perch: with and without disrupted vision (head mask), with and without space limitations (obstacles) and combinations thereof. Video recordings (600 Hz) and a three-axis accelerometer/gyroscope (100 Hz) were used to measure the number of jumps/falls, latencies to leave the perch, as well as magnitude and direction of both linear and rotational balance-correcting movements. Laying hens with and without physical health problems, in both challenged and unchallenged environments, managed to perch and remain off the ground. We attribute this capacity to our training of the birds. Environmental challenges and physical state had an effect on the use of accelerations and rotations to stabilize themselves on a perch. Birds with physical health problems performed a higher frequency of rotational corrections to keep the body centered over the perch, whereas, for both health categories, environmental challenges required more intense and variable movement corrections. Collectively, these results provide novel empirical support for the effectiveness of training, and highlight that overcrowding, visual constraints, and poor physical health all reduce perching performance.

Assessing Activity and Location of Individual Laying Hens in Large Groups Using Modern Technology

Tracking individual animals within large groups is increasingly possible, offering an exciting opportunity to researchers. Whereas previously only relatively indistinguishable groups of individual animals could be observed and combined into pen level data, we can now focus on individual actors within these large groups and track their activities across time and space with minimal intervention and disturbance. The development is particularly relevant to the poultry industry as, due to a shift away from battery cages, flock sizes are increasingly becoming larger and environments more complex. Many efforts have been made to track individual bird behavior and activity in large groups using a variety of methodologies with variable success. Of the technologies in use, each has associated benefits and detriments, which can make the approach more or less suitable for certain environments and experiments. Within this article, we have divided several tracking systems that are currently available into two major categories (radio frequency identification and radio signal strength) and review the strengths and weaknesses of each, as well as environments or conditions for which they may be most suitable. We also describe related topics including types of analysis for the data and concerns with selecting focal birds.

Genetic selection to increase bone strength affects prevalence of keel bone damage and egg parameters in commercially housed laying hens.

The prevalence of keel bone damage as well as external egg parameters of 2 pure lines divergently selected for high (H) and low (L) bone strength were investigated in 2 aviary systems under commercial conditions. A standard LSL hybrid was used as a reference group. Birds were kept mixed per genetic line (77 hens of the H and L line and 201 or 206 hens of the LSL line, respectively, per pen) in 8 pens of 2 aviary systems differing in design. Keel bone status and body mass of 20 focal hens per line and pen were assessed at 17, 18, 23, 30, 36, 43, 52, and 63 wk of age. External egg parameters (i.e., egg mass, eggshell breaking strength, thickness, and mass) were measured using 10 eggs per line at both 38 and 57 wk of age. Body parameters (i.e. tarsus and third primary wing feather length to calculate index of wing loading) were recorded at 38 wk of age and mortality per genetic line throughout the laying cycle. Bone mineral density (BMD) of 15 keel bones per genetic line was measured after slaughter to confirm assignment of the experimental lines. We found a greater BMD in the H compared with the L and LSL lines. Fewer keel bone fractures and deviations, a poorer external egg quality, as well as a lower index of wing loading were found in the H compared with the L line. Mortality was lower and production parameters (e.g., laying performance) were higher in the LSL line compared with the 2 experimental lines. Aviary design affected prevalence of keel bone damage, body mass, and mortality. We conclude that selection of specific bone traits associated with bone strength as well as the related differences in body morphology (i.e., lower index of wing loading) have potential to reduce keel bone damage in commercial settings. Also, the housing environment (i.e., aviary design) may have additive effects.

Opening the Cornerstone

Jenison, Edward S., architect. On verso: Vera B. Baits (l.), Pres. A.G. Ruthven (c.), and Regent R.O. Bonisteel (r.) examining the contents of the copper box from the cornerstone of University Hall in the Regents confrence room, Administration Building

Opening the Cornerstone

Jenison, Edward S., architect. On verso: Pres. A.G. Ruthven (l.) and V. Pres. R.P. Briggs attempting to open the cornerstone of University Hall in order to remove the copper box.[

The fruit garden : a treatise intended to explain and illustrate the physiology of fruit trees, the theory and practice of all operations connected with the propagation, transplanting, pruning and training of orchard and garden trees ... the laying out and arranging different kinds of orchards and gardens ... : illustrated with upwards of 150 figures ... /

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History of Saint Mary's Church, Mott Haven, 340 Alexander Ave., New York City. Issued for annual parish festival service on the seventy-fifth anniversary of the laying of the corner stone of the original church on Ascension Day, May 1st, 1856, Ascension Day, May 14th, 1931. History and statistics 1856-1906

Mode of access: Internet.

The encyclopaedia of practical cookery : a complete dictionary of all pertaining to the art of cookery and table service : including original modern reciepts for all kinds of dishes for general, occasional, and exceptional use, the making of every description of table confectionery, the home manufacture of wines, liqueurs, and table waters, the laying, decorating, and preparing of banquets, wedding breakfasts, luncheons, teas, celebration and ball suppers, picnics, garden-party refreshments, race and boating baskets, &c. : the care and good management of the cellar, butler's pantry, larder, ice rooms and chests, &c. /

[Division I. A to Cak] -- Division II. Cak to Cro -- Division III. Cro to Gri -- Division IV. Gri to Mus -- Division V. Mus to Pin -- Division VI. Pin to Ser -- Division VII. Sha to Tut -- Division VIII. Twe to Zwe.

Tower of Babel, center: men laying bricks on an arch

Pieter Bruegel the Elder; oil on panel

Report of the international egg-laying contest, together with results of experiments conducted during the contest.

At head of title: Province of British Columbia. Dept. of Agriculture (Livestock Branch, Poultry Division)

A papist mis-represented and represented or A two-fold charactery of Popery : the one containing a sum of the superstitions, idolatries, cruelties, treacheries and wicked principles of that Popery which ... deserves the hatred of all good Christians, the other laying open that Popery, which the Papists own and profess ... /

Mode of access: Internet.

Grammaticae quaestiones, or, A grammatical examination by question only : for the use of schools, particularly those where the Eton grammar is taught : humbly offered to the public as the most effectual way of laying a solid classical foundation and obviating the many inconveniences arising from a superficial knowledge of the grammar /

Mode of access: Internet.

1934 laying flock costs and returns on 90 Michigan farms

Cover title.

Considerations relating to the laying any additional duty on sugar from the British plantations; wherein is shewn, that such duty will be injurious to the commerce and navigation of this kingdom, ruinous to our sugar colonies, beneficial to those of France, and insufficient for the purposes intended.

Earlier eds. issued under titles: Considerations against laying any new duty upon sugar and Considerations relating to a new duty upon sugar.

Specifications for treating and laying creosoted pine paving blocks /

Mode of access: Internet.