A Comparison of the Plumage Condition of Three Egg-Laying Poultry Genotypes Housed in Non-Cage Systems

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The diverse types of cage-free systems require an understanding of the differences between them in terms of the welfare of the laying hens. One of the methods for assessing the welfare of laying hens is an assessment based on the plumage condition. In the conducted study, the plumage condition of laying hens raised in various types of alternative (non-cage) housing systems was assessed, i.e., in deep litter, free-range, and organic systems. The study included hens of the native Green-legged Partridges (Z-11), Rhode Island Red (R-11) hens covered by a genetic resource protection program, and hybrids of Hy-Line Brown at 20, 36, and 56 weeks of age. The type of cage-free system implemented had an effect on the condition of the plumage in the laying hens. Smaller losses of plumage were found in hens raised in free-range and organic farming conditions than in the litter system. As the age of the birds increased, the condition of the hens' plumage deteriorated. Rhode Island Red hens were characterised by the best plumage condition in litter housing conditions, while the native Green-legged Partridge hens showed the best plumage condition in the free-range and organic systems. ABSTRACT: The study covered a total of 810 hens in 3 groups (housing systems) of 270 hens each. The plumage condition of laying hens raised in various types of alternative housing systems, i.e., in deep litter (B), free-range (FR), and organic systems (O), was assessed at 20, 36, and 56 weeks of age. The indoor stocking density was 6 hens/m(2). The study included hens of the native Green-legged Partridge breed (Z-11), Rhode Island Red (R-11) hens covered by a genetic resource protection program, and hybrids of Hy-Line Brown. The plumage of the head, neck, back, tail, and abdomen was assessed on a 5-point scale. The assessment of individual hens' plumage was calculated as the sum of the scores of the head, neck, back, tail and abdomen and could range from 0 (no cover) to 20 points (full plumage). The type of alternative housing system implemented and the age of the laying hens had an effect on the plumage status of all body parts assessed (p < 0.05), while the genotype had an effect on the condition of the neck, back, and tail plumage (p < 0.05). In both the FR and O systems, the plumage status was similar and superior to that in B (p < 0.05). As the age of the birds increased, the condition of the hens' plumage deteriorated. The better state of the plumage in FR and O than in B may indicate improved levels of welfare in housing systems with access to outside runs.