This collection provides a comprehensive overview of the key welfare issues affecting laying hens, as well as the measures and practices which can be put in place to prevent their occurrence. Chapters review the range of welfare issues affecting laying hens in conventional cages, enriched cages and free range environments.

Chapter 1 - Welfare issues in poultry housing and management: laying hens: Victoria Sandilands, Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), UK; 1 Introduction2 Conventional cages3 Enriched cages4 Cage-free housing5 Conclusion6 Where to look for further information7 ReferencesChapter 2 - Welfare issues affecting free-range laying hens: Dana L.M. Campbell, University of New England and CSIRO, Australia, Sarah L, Lambton, University of Bristol, UK, Isabelle Ruhnke, University of New England, Australia and Claire A. Weeks, University of Bristol, UK; 1 Introduction2 Use of the outdoor range3 Mortality, health and correlations with range use4 Predators and pathogens5 Ranging, nutrition and grass impaction6 Feather pecking and cannibalism7 Summary8 Future trends in research9 Where to look for further information10 ReferencesChapter 3 - Beak trimming of laying hens: welfare costs and benefits: Dorothy McKeegan, University of Glasgow, UK; 1 Introduction2 Feather pecking and cannibalism3 The welfare impact of beak trimming4 Effects of beak trimming on injurious pecking and production5 Alternative strategies to reduce the need for beak trimming6 Conclusions and future directions for research7 Where to look for further information8 ReferencesChapter 4 - Bone health and associated problems in layer hens: Christina Rufener, University of California-Davis, USA; and Michael J. Toscano, University of Bern, Switzerland; 1 Introduction2 Bone development, growth and remodelling3 Identified bone health problems4 Contributory factors to poor bone health5 Influence of poor bone health on productivity and welfare6 Strategies for improving bone health7 Future trends in research8 Where to look for further information9 ReferencesChapter 5 - Genetics and genomics of behavioral and welfare traits in poultry species: Heng-wei Cheng and Sha Jiang, Livestock Behavior Research Unit, USDA-ARS, USA and Southwest University, China; 1 Introduction2 The relationship of natural and artificial selection to animal welfare3 Management, behavior and welfare in poultry4 Selection programs, aggression and poultry welfare5 Group selection approaches to reduce aggression6 Limitations of selection programs7 Summary and future trends8 Where to look for further information9 References

This collection features five peer-reviewed reviews on ensuring the welfare of laying hens.The first chapter highlights the key welfare issues in poultry housing and management, focussing on the use of conventional cages to house laying hens. The chapter then explores the emergence of enriched cages and cage-free housing, as well as the benefits and risks of each system on bird health and welfare.The second chapter reviews the range of welfare issues affecting free range laying hens. The chapter also highlights the need to improve current understanding of how laying hens behave in free range systems to be able to adequately meet their health and welfare needs.The third chapter discusses the use of beak trimming methods, as well as the welfare concerns that arise as a result of their use. The chapter highlights alternative strategies to reduce the need for these practices which are known to incur acute pain.The fourth chapter reviews the impact of housing and management systems on the skeletal and cognitive development of laying hens. It discusses how nutrition and housing can be optimised to reduce the occurrence of bone health issues.The final chapter reviews current research on the genetics of behavioural traits in poultry, focussing on how breeding can be optimised to reduce aggressive behaviour in laying hens.What is an Instant Insight?An Instant Insight gives you immediate access to key research on a topic, allowing you to get right to the heart of a subject in an instant and empowering you to contribute to sustainable agriculture.