One of the primary aspects of the welfare of laying hens is the living conditions in which they are raised. In recent years, there has been increased awareness of the importance of providing hens with adequate space and enriched environments, so alternatives to cage-based housing (such as cage-free, free-range, and enriched colony housing) have emerged. These systems encourage the natural behavior of hens by offering them more space and resources, such as perches and nesting areas. In this episode, Dr. Tina Widowski discusses her current research on the topic along with different aspects of these non-cage systems, as well as the responses of the birds to them and their behavioral needs.

“Nesting, foraging, perching, and dust bathing: those are the things that we try to accommodate in any kind of welfare-friendly system, while at the same time keeping the animals healthy.” - Dr. Tina Widowski

• (00:00) Highlight
• (02:24) Introduction
• (04:49) Guest’s career path
• (08:06) Hot topics on the laying hen industry
• (09:55) Transitioning birds from cages to cage-free systems
• (14:12) Understanding non-cage systems
• (18:26) Monitoring the behavior of laying hens
• (22:43) Behavior differences between brown and white birds
• (31:44) Feather pecking
• (38:28) Keel damage
• (45:29) The three final questions

Meet the guest:  Dr. Tina Widowski

Experience:

• Current: Professor of Applied Animal Behavior and Welfare; Egg Farmers of Canada Research Chair in Poultry Welfare

Background:

• Ph.D., Epidemiology (the University of Illinois)
• M.Sc., Animal Science (the University of Illinois)
• B.Sc.; Ecology, Ethology, and Evolution (the University of Illinois)

Connect with the guest!

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