Studies on the Housing Density of the Fowl

From the results of previous experiment, authors suggested that there was possibility of making higher density of the laying cage house than that common in Japan. This study conducted to obtain the informations of the housing density of the laying cage house. Nine hundred commercial birds Babcock B 300 at 125 days of age were put into the cage. Two laying cage house, 4m width, 20m depth and 3.5m height were used. Cage size used in both houses was 24cm width, 39cm depth and 40cm height. In high density house, two birds were put into one cage, in another ordinary density house, one bird in one cage. Number of birds per square meter of laying cage house were 7.5 in high and 3.75 birds in ordinary density house. Experiment was conducted over the one year from 126 to 500 days of age.There were no differences in days to 50% egg production, percent of egg production hen day basis, number of egg laid of survival birds, egg weight, feed consumption, feed conversion and viability between laying cage houses. The performances of layer in high density house did not decreased comparing with the birds in ordinary density house. The time required of daily management of the birds in high density house was about 1.5 times as long as ordinary house but the time required in high density per bird was shorter than that in ordinary density house.