Effect of early litter access on plumage and fearfulness in commercial laying hen pullets

Providing access to fresh and dry litter, in addition to chick paper from day 1 of rearing may improve plumage and reduce fear responses in pullets due to stimulation of more positive and natural pecking behaviour. However, few studies have examined this relationship in commercial rearing flocks. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of early access to fresh litter and chick paper on fear responses and plumage quality during the rearing period. Eight commercial pullet flocks (Lohman LSL Lite n=6 and Dekalb White n=2) were divided in two treatments; Litter; birds with access to chick paper and cardboard trays with litter from day 0 - 21 and Control; birds with access to chick paper from day 0 – 21. Each flock was visited at weeks 2, 7 and 14 of age. Data collection included scoring plumage condition using two methods, (1) a whole flock assessment using transect walk with indicators on a binary scale and (2) detailed individual scoring of 30 birds/treatment/age, in addition to two behavioural tests of fear-related behaviour, (1) Novel Object (NO) test at weeks 2, 7 and 14 and (2) Stationary person (SP) test at weeks 7 and 14. Providing fresh litter during the first three weeks of life reduced fear response towards a NO, with more Litter birds approaching the NO compared to the Control group (P < 0.05). There was a significant effect of age (P < 0.0001), with more birds approaching the NO at 7 and 14 weeks of age compared to week 2 of age (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.0003, respectively). Litter access had no effect on fear towards a SP at week 7 or 14, but more birds approached the SP at 14 weeks compared to at 7 weeks (P < 0.006). Furthermore, litter provision did not influence plumage quality or other health parameters at any age. Slight wear to tail feathers was detected in 65 out of 1440 birds during the individual scoring. When assessing welfare and plumage in healthy flocks with minimal welfare issues, detailed scoring of individual birds appears to be necessary, in addition to the whole flock assessment using the transect walk. • Positive effects of early access to litter in commercial pullets in aviary systems • Pullets with access to litter in the first three weeks showed reduced fearfulness • Early access to litter is a feasible enrichment for commercial rearers