EFFECT OF BIRD DENSITY ON PERFORMANCE OF WHITE LEGHORN HENS IN CAGES

An experiment was conducted in White Leghorn strain cross (ILM-90) layers in cages during the period from 21 to 56 weeks of age in order to study the effects of bird density on the performance of layers in multiple-bird cages. Three floor space allowances viz. , 700, 560 and 420 cm2/bird in groups of four, five and six birds/cage were employed in the study. The results revealed that the mean daily feed consumption and feed efficiency were significantly better in the cage floor space of 420 cm2/bird with a stocking density of six birds/cage. But in this group the mean egg weight was significantly low and the mortality was very high. Therefore, based on the overall findings it was concluded that groups of four birds per cage with a floor space of 700 cm2 per bird is optimum for rearing layers in multiple-bird cages as there was numerically higher egg production with significantly higher egg weight with relatively low mortality rate.