Frontiers | Cecal Microbiota of Free-Range Hens Varied With Different Rearing Enrichments and Ranging Patterns
Free-range pullets are reared indoors but the adult hens can go outside which is a mismatch that may reduce adaptation in the laying environment. Rearing enrichments might enhance pullet development and adaptations to subsequent free-range housing with impact on behavior and health measures including gut microbiota. Adult free-range hens vary in range use which may also be associated with microbiota composition. A total of 1700 Hy-Line Brown® chicks were reared indoors across 16 weeks with three enrichment treatment groups: ‘control’ with standard litter housing, ‘novelty’ with we...
Source: frontiersin.org