Abstract
Effect of cage size, width and depth on growing chicks and on their subsequent performance was studied.
Totally 642 chicks of 7 weeks of age were housed 9 differeet size cages which were 90, 67.5 and 45cm of width and 60, 45 and 30cm of depth, respectively. Height of all cages were the same as 45cm.
Housing density of the chicks in each cage was 450cm2 per chicks.
Total 80 chicks were kept in cages which was 90cm of width, 60cm of depth and 45cm of height as a control. Density of the chicks in each cage (8 chicks per cage) of control was 675cm2.
During 10 to 19 weeks of age, each different size cage subdevided into two groups. The chicks in one group were supplied feed ad libitum while the chicks in the other group received restricted feeding. At 20 weeks of age pullets were housed the same size laying cages (2 pullets per cage).
Body weight of the chicks at the 20 weeks of age raised in short depth cage supplied feed ad libitum, were greater than that in long depth cage. Under restricted feeding, no significant difference was observed in body weight at 20 wecks of age among cege sizes.
But variance of the body weight of the chicks in short depth cage was smaller than that in long depth cage. Incidence of cannibalism was also decreased in short depth cage. The chicks raised under restricted feeding responded more sensitive than those fed feed ad libitum.
No differences were observed in their performance at laying stage 20 to 60 weeks of age among cage sizes which used their growing stage.
