The use of perches by broilers in floor pens

Abstract

1. Small flocks of broilers, numbering between 160 and 240, were placed in two deep‐litter pens each 10.13 m² in area, one of which contained four perches each 3.05 m long and about 0.3 m above the floor. The presence of birds on the perches was noted. Body weights at 56 d were recorded and food intakes from 0 to 56 d measured.

2. In experiments 1 and 2, when 160 birds without perches were compared with 240 with perches, the latter gained slightly less weight but had an improved food conversion efficiency. At 8 weeks about 27% of the birds were observed on the perches at any one time.

3. In experiments 3 and 4 both pens contained about 200 birds. Those with perches gained slightly more weight and food conversion efficiencies were similar. At 8 weeks about 12% of the birds were observed on the perches.

4. Perch usage appeared to be governed both by the age and size of the birds and by their density. In all four experiments the numbers perching at 8 weeks seemed to be such that the density of birds on the floor was about 17 birds/m² (28 to 34 kg/m²).