The Effect of Wire Pens, Floor Pens and Cages on Bone Characteristics of Laying Hens

Abstract

SEVERAL factors which may lead to osteoporosis or bone fragility include a deficiency of sex hormones, calcium deficiency, malnutrition, or a lack of normal stimulation due to stress and/or strain such as encountered by prolonged recumbency, plaster casts, etc. (Jackson, 1967). It has been well established by Trueta (1968) that immobilization, bed rest, and lack of muscular activity are all factors contributing to osteoporosis in humans. It was also demonstrated that bone rarefaction occurred in rabbits whose feet and legs were immobilized by plaster casts. It has been demonstrated (Rowland et al., 1968) that hens maintained in cages had a lower bone breaking strength and a lower tibia ash than those kept in floor pens. It is possible that hens kept in cages develop osteoporosis or bone fragility more rapidly than floor birds due to a lack of exercise. Therefore, these studies were conducted to determine if exercise could be…