Performance of Layers in Single and Multiple Bird Cages

INTRODUCTION ALTHOUGH a number of reports have been published which compare the performance of layers on litter floors with that of caged layers, there is a paucity of research literature on the effects of cage density on performance. A number of popular press reports on cage density are available, however. Schupe and Quisenberry (1961) compared the performance of individually caged birds with that of colony caged birds (25 females per cage). Significant differences in egg production and mortality in favor of the individually caged birds were found. Lowe and Heywang (1964) housed females under four cage regimes: (1) individually in 8″ × 18″ cages; (2) individually in 10″ × 18″ cages; (3) two females in 12″ × 18″ cages; and (4) five females in 24″ × 18″ cages, each regime of which was in a separate house. Square inches of floor space per female were not equalized in the various . . .