The effect of different rearing systems on performance in laying hens

This study, it was aimed to examine the effect of the rearing system on the performance (live weight, egg production and feed consumption etc.) of hens of the same breed and age raised in conventional cage and free-range systems in the same enterprise. Nick Brown, a commercial brown layer hybrid grown in conventional cage and free-range systems in a private laying poultry farm operating in Afyonkarahisar province, was used as animal material in the research. The data of the research were obtained from the coop cards issued separately for each chicken coop in the enterprise and through face-to-face interviews with the business owner and caregivers. In addition, live weight data of 50 hens and weight data of 50 eggs taken from two rearing systems at the ages of 30 and 60 weeks were used. Although there were significant differences (p<0.05) between egg production averages in some weeks in Nick Brown hens, a commercial brown layer hybrid of the same age and raised in free-range and conventional cage systems, it was determined that there was no difference when looking at the overall egg production average. Mortality rate in hens was found to be significantly higher (p<0.001) in the free-range system compared to the conventional cage system, especially after the 45th week. The rate of dirty eggs was significantly higher (p<0.01) in the free-range system compared to the conventional cage system between the 45th and 65th weeks. Although the rate of broken/cracked eggs has increased in both systems in recent weeks, it was significantly higher (p<0.01) in the conventional cage system compared to the free-range system between the 45th and 65th weeks. It was determined that the average live weight and egg weight of chickens taken at 30 and 60 weeks were significantly higher (p <0.05) in the conventional cage system compared to the free-range system. Both total and monthly feed consumption averages were significantly (p<0.001) higher in the free-range rearing system than in the conventional cage system. As a result, it was observed that the dirty egg rate, mortality rate and feed consumption were higher in the free-range rearing system than in the conventional cage system, but there was no difference in the overall egg yield average. In addition to this information, it was concluded that it would be beneficial to plan the systems together by considering their economic aspects when evaluating them.