Species: Laying hens

The effect of worker clothing color on stress in laying hens

Genc, M. and Ozenturk, U.

Published in 2024

Scientific article showing the influence of farmers' clothing colors on vocal stress responses in laying hens. White clothing elicited the weakest response, while black and dark blue clothing elicited the strongest.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Fear, Human-Animal Relationships, Stress, Vocalisation

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Fowl language: AI is learning to analyze chicken communications to help us understand what all the clucking's about

Suresh Neethirajan

Published in 2024

Popular science article on the benefits of an AI tool to interpret the complex vocal linguistic system used by chickens. Combined with an analysis of non-vocal cues, the tool would make it possible to understand the birds' emotional states. This interpretation of different chicken vocalizations could lead to improved farming practices and a change in how we view our relationship with animals.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Precision farming, Human-animal relationships, Vocalisation

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Assemblée nationale : réponse écrite à la question n°10089 : Garantir une transition pour un élevage sans cage

Question: Mrs Sandra Regol (Ecologist - NUPES - Bas-Rhin). Answer: Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty

Published in 2024

Response from the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty to an MP's question on the EU's commitment to ban cage farming.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories:Cattle, Pigs, Poultry

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Livestock buildings, Housing, Restraint equipment

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Stop culling male layer-type chick: an overview of the alternatives and public perspective

Francesca Coppola, Gisella Paci, Matteo Profeti, Simone Mancini

Published in 2023

Scientific study summarizing available literature sources on alternatives to the current culling method for male chicks and the public's view of these approaches. In ovo sex determination appears to be the main potential alternative method to the culling of male chicks, and the one preferred by consumers, especially if carried out during the early days of incubation.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Pain, Societal issues, Euthanasia, Prenatal issues, Livestock farming system

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Assemblée nationale : réponse écrite à la question n°8820 : Mise en application de l’interdiction du broyage des poussins mâles

Question: Josy Poueyto (Démocrate (MoDem et Indépendants) - Pyrénées-Atlantiques). Answer: Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty.

Published in 2024

Answer to a question from a member of parliament asking the Ministry to enforce the ban on crushing male chicks, including regular checks in hatcheries, and to extend the regulations to female ducklings.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Euthanasia, Abuse, Prenatal issues, Livestock farming system

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Resource choice during ontogeny enhances both the short- and longer-term welfare of laying hen pullets

Regine Victoria Holt, Lena Skånberg, Linda J. Keeling, Inma Estevez, Ruth C. Newberry

Published in 2024

Scientific article showing that offering chicks and juveniles a choice between different types of litter and perches has positive short- and long-term effects on the emotional state and physical condition of laying hens.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Livestock buildings, Enrichment, Housing, Behavioural disorders

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Fin de l’élimination des poussins mâles d’un jour : le choix du sexage in ovo

Sophie Rehault-Godbert, Marie Bourin, Joël Gautron, Maxime Quentin

Published in 2023

Scientific review that recaps the French decree banning the killing of male chicks from laying-hen lines, and sets out the three possible alternatives. Of these, in ovo sexing is the only route that is currently technically and economically viable, and this is presented in depth.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Euthanasia

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Synthetic and phytogenic antioxidants improve productive performance, antioxidant activity, gene expression, and offspring quality in breeder hens subjected to heat stress

Phocharapon Pasri, Sitthipong Rakngam, Nadine Gérard, Pascal Mermillod, Sutisa Khempaka

Published in 2024

Scientific paper demonstrating the effectiveness of a mixture of synthetic and phytogenic substances in countering the negative effects of heat stress in breeding hens on production, blood chemistry, sperm survival in the oviduct, antioxidant properties, gene expression and offspring quality.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Prenatal issues, Resilience, Robustness, Stress

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Heat stress: Implications of hyperthermia and physiology of layer hens

Roberto Montanhini Neto

Published in 2024

Article describing the effects of heat stress on the feeding behavior, physiology and metabolism of laying hens, particularly oxidative stress. It sets out the benefits of phytogenic feeds in mitigating the adverse effects of high heat on the welfare and production of laying hens.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Resilience, Robustness, Stress

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Providing elevated structures in the pullet rearing environment affects behavior during initial acclimation to a layer aviary

Allison N. Pullin, Christina B. Rufener, Suzanne T. Millman, John F. Tarlton, Michael J. Toscan

Published in 2024

Scientific article reporting that hens with access to elevated platforms during the rearing phase make better use of the space in laying aviaries when they are first transferred there than those reared on the ground. The latter acclimatize within 1-2 weeks, but continue to make little use of the highest level of the aviary.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Enrichment, Housing, Livestock buildings

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