ABSTRACT

1. This study examined what elements of artificial enrichment structures attract hens in the outdoor range, and what behaviours hens perform around these structures. Three principles of cover design (height, orientation and visual density) were tested for laying hen preference in the outdoor range of a commercial egg farm using a 2 × 3 × 3 factorial design. The factors were height: 0.5 m or 1.5 m; orientation: vertical, horizontal or horizontal cover with one vertical side; and visual density: 0% (control), 50% or 90% UV blocking cloth.

2. A significant three-way interaction between all factors was found (P < 0.001). The most preferred visual density of these structures was the 90%, followed by 50% UV blocking cloth. Horizontal structures with one vertical side, of either height, were highly preferred. Short horizontal structures were preferred to tall ones, and tall vertical structures were slightly preferred over short ones.

3. The most common behaviours observed around the structures were interaction with the structure (pecks, scratches and vigilance directed at the structure; 32.7%), foraging (32.2%), locomotion (9.9%), and air foraging (pecks and snapping in the air; 9.0%). A three-way interaction between the design principles influenced the proportion of hens performing each of these behaviours (P < 0.001). Hens foraged more around structures with no shade cloth and interacted more with structures that had dense shade cloth.

4. These results highlighted the complexity of designing attractive outdoor environments for laying hens. By testing the combination of elements that hens prefer it is possible to understand how to design attractive outdoor ranges that attract hens and promote a diverse range of behaviours on commercial farms.

摘要

1.这项研究检查了人工浓缩结构的哪些元素在室外范围内吸引了母鸡，以及母鸡在这些结构周围的行为。使用2×3×3因子设计，测试了三种覆盖设计原则（高度，方向和视觉密度），以在商业蛋场的室外范围内对蛋鸡偏爱。这些因素是高度：0.5 m或1.5 m；方向：垂直，水平或水平盖，垂直面为一侧；视觉密度：0％（对照），50％或90％的紫外线防护布。

2.发现所有因素之间存在显着的三向相互作用（P <0.001）。这些结构最优选的视觉密度是90％，然后是50％的防紫外线布。具有任一高度的垂直侧的水平结构是高度优选的。短的水平结构要比高的结构好，而高的垂直结构要比短的结构稍好。

3.在结构周围观察到的最常见行为是与结构的相互作用（啄，划痕和对结构的警惕；占32.7％），觅食（32.2％），运动（9.9％）和空中觅食（啄和and啪声）。空气； 9.0％）。设计原则之间的三向交互影响了执行这些行为的母鸡的比例（P <0.001）。母鸡在没有遮阳布的建筑物周围觅食更多，并且与带有密集遮阳布的建筑物相互作用更多。

4.这些结果突显了为蛋鸡设计漂亮的户外环境的复杂性。通过测试母鸡偏爱的元素组合，可以了解如何设计吸引鸡群的有吸引力的户外养鸡场，并在商业农场上促进各种行为。