Stocking density: Can we judge how much space poultry need?

Book section : Chapter

The difficulties of defining the space needs of poultry are only partly due to methodological discrepancies between studies and therefore only partly rectifiable by more research along previous lines. “Space” for poultry is far more complex than can be summed up in one single number and too much reliance on stocking density without considering what space contains is unlikely to improve welfare. Space needs are considered in relation to effects of varying amounts of space on bird physical health, their social responses, and their responses to enrichments. Space needs have been measured in various ways including the animals’ own preferences, spatial distribution, area covered, and behavior linked with positive and negative affect. A possible way forward is to be more specific about the space needs that poultry have for performing specific behavior patterns that either have an effect on their health or can be demonstrated to be important to the birds themselves.

Authors: Dawkins, M

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Host title: Advances in Poultry Welfare
• Pages: 227-242
• Chapter number: 11
• Series: Woodhead Publishing Series in Food Science, Technology and Nutrition
• Publication date: 2018-01-29
• Acceptance date: 2016-11-15
• DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-08-100915-4.00011-7
• ISBN: 978-0-08-100915-4
• Language: English
• Keywords: animal welfare; space allowances; stocking density; poultry behaviour
• Subtype: Chapter