Locomotive behaviour of hens and cocks (Gallus gallus f. dom.) -: Implication for housing systems

The locomotive activity - that is the distance moved per day - of 8 hens and 2 cocks in aviary systems with and without free-range was directly observed and recorded. The investigation was carried out on two farms without Free range with two groups each and group sizes of 2000 animals and on one farm with Free-range and 650 animals per group. The hens in the aviaries without Free-range moved between 340 m and 634 m per day. The cocks moved larger distances (795 m - 1445 m). The hens moved longer distances in connection with food-intake (13 - 31 %) than the cocks (1.3 - 13.7 %). The hens in the aviary with free-range moved distances of 1800 m and 2500 m per day. The investigation shows, that hens and cocks show an extensive locomotive behaviour if they have the possibility to do so.