The effect of cage density on laying hen performance, egg quality, and excreta minerals

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of cage density on laying hen performance, egg quality parameters, blood indices, and excreta mineral concentration. Eighty White Leghorns were housed at 4 cage densities of 2,000, 1,000, 667, and 500 cm(2) per hen, corresponding to 1, 2, 3, and 4 hens per cage. Throughout the study, hens were fed a diet containing 2,852 kcal of ME/kg and 18% CP from 35 to 47 wk of age. Hen-day egg production and egg quality parameters were recorded weekly. Blood plasma was also subjected to several biochemical tests. The hens in the treatment having 4 hens per cage had significantly lower (P < 0.05) BW, egg weight, hen-day egg production, egg mass, feed intake, egg surface area, unit surface eggshell weight, yolk color, plasma calcium, and plasma uric acid than hens in the treatment with 1 hen per cage. However, those hens had significantly higher (P < 0.05) FCR, egg specific gravity, eggshell ratio, plasma iron and magnesium, plasma glucose, and moisture content of excreta than hens in the treatment with 1 hen per cage. On the basis of these results, White Leghorn hens (Hy-Line W36) could be kept in cages at densities of 2,000 or 1,000 cm2 to improve egg quality parameters and performance.