Performance, welfare, health and hygiene of laying hens in non-cage systems in comparison with cage systems

This chapter compares the performance, welfare, health and hygiene of laying
hens in different types of non-cage systems, focusing on barn, free range and
organic systems. These non-cage systems are compared with each other and
with cage systems. This comparison shows that both between barn, free range
and organic systems and between non-cage and cage systems large differences
can be identifi ed. Moving from conventional cages to furnished cages, barn,
free range and fi nally organic systems results in increasing environmental
complexity, which is positive for some aspects of hen welfare, but also
increasing risks for performance, health and hygiene, which is negative for
other aspects of hen welfare. For the improvement of the welfare of laying
hens in non-cage systems and furnished cages, we recommend that the focus
should be on creating a better match between the animals and their husbandry
environment. Good examples are the development of new housing designs
that combine the benefi ts of non-cage systems with improved performance,
health and hygienic status. Further, promising approaches in animal breeding
and optimizing rearing environments are expected to yield major improvements
in the welfare of laying hens in non-cage systems and furnished cages.