THE EFFECTS OF MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AND SOCIAL RANK ON BEHAVIOR AND PRODUCTIVITY OF WHITE LEGHORN LAYERS IN CAGES

The effects of 3 management programs for behavioral and production performance traits of caged layers were evaluated. Management programs consisted of 5 birds/cage; (1) in deep cages, (2) shallow cages, both with full feed, and (3) shallow cages with restricted feeding. Feeding frequencies, aggressive activity, egg production, egg weights, body weights and egg shell strengths were determined for social ranks within cage groups. Feed usage was determined for management programs only. Social ranks effects for feeding frequencies were observed (P .ltoreq. 0.05) with reduced feedings for the lowest rank in programs 1 and 3. Egg production was significantly (P .ltoreq. 0.05) reduced for the lowest social rank with the feed restriction program. No differences for body weights, weight gains, egg size and shell breaking strength were observed among social ranks. Management program significantly (P .ltoreq. 0.05) affected aggressive activity, body weights and feed usage. Birds in shallow cages with full feeding recorded the fewest number of total aggressive acts; birds in shallow cages with feed restriction recorded the most total aggressive acts. Birds in shallow cages with full feeding had larger body weigths and weight gains and used more feed.