Table 1 Production data for broiler breeders over one production cycle.

From: Developing appropriate environmental enrichment strategies for broiler breeders

 

Overall mean ± SD

Min (weekly)

Max (weekly)

Weekly floor eggs (%)

   

 House 1 (Perches only)

0.66 ± 0.65

0

3.32

 House 2 (Mixed enrichment)

0.82 ± 0.89

0.12

4.67

 House 3 (Control)

0.52 ± 1.04

0.04

5.32

 House 4 (Pecking object only)

0.44 ± 0.89

0.04

4.19

Weekly eggs produced (per hen)

   

 House 1 (Perches only)

4.63 ± 1.22

0

5.63

 House 2 (Mixed enrichment)

4.77 ± 1.30

0.02

5.82

 House 3 (Control)

4.64 ± 1.35

0.01

5.73

 House 4 (Pecking object only)

4.63 ± 1.28

0.03

5.73

Average weekly mortality

   

 House 1 (Perches only)

16.4 ± 7.73

0

27

 House 2 (Mixed enrichment)

9.12 ± 4.71

0

21

 House 3 (Control)

15.1 ± 9.80

0

36

 House 4 (Pecking object only)

13.1 ± 6.87

0

30

  1. Data for four houses containing different enrichment conditions, either a combination of perch types, both perches and gazing balls (pecking enrichment), an unenriched control or gazing balls only. Descriptive data presented for each house, with mean and standard deviation (SD). Weekly floor eggs described any egg laid on the litter of the house, calculated as a percentage of the total weekly eggs produced. Weekly eggs produced per hen was calculated as the total eggs produced that week/total birds alive that week. Average egg data taken across weeks 23–63. Average weekly mortality is the average number of pullets dead per week (culled + found dead), between weeks 18–59.
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