Provision of perches and their use by broiler breeders on the basis of a case study

Abstract

All individuals of the species Gallus gallus, also broiler breeders, have a preference of resting on elevated areas but only few studies have focused on the resting behaviour of broiler breeders. The aim of the present study was to determine the status quo of perch use on conventional broiler breeder farms. Therefore, nine commercial broiler breeder flocks with the fast growing genetics Ross 308 and Ross 708 and the slow growing genetics Ross Ranger in Lower Saxony, Germany, were investigated. Observations were conducted at two different times during the production phase. The different types of perches and their use were examined by means of photo-based behavioural observations. In total, seven different types of perches were provided. Perches were available in the slatted area as well as in the littered area. They were made of plastic, wood or metal and they were of various heights (38.0–48.0 cm above the littered area, and 0.0–15.5 cm above the raised slatted area). Complying with their natural behaviour, broiler breeders, both of the slow growing hybrid Ross Ranger and the fast growing hybrids Ross 308 and Ross 708, used all types of perches with a higher intensity during the dark-period (2.07 birds/m perch versus 0.73 birds/m in the light period). The study showed that all perch types were used. However, broiler breeders seemed to prefer perches with a height of at least 5.5 cm.