Influence of Presence of Perches During Rearing on Incidence of Floor Laying in Broiler Breeders

Broiler breeders were reared in an all-litter blackout house on an 8-h photoperiod either in the presence or absence of perches (28 cm per bird) from hatching to 20 wk of age. The configuration of the perches resembled that on the standard 12-hole nest boxes in the curtain-sided slat-litter laying house to which birds were moved at 20 wk of age. Birds reared in the presence of perches exhibited a significantly reduced incidence of floor egg laying during each of two experiments. Birds reared with perches laid 3.6 vs. 8.6% floor eggs (Experiment 1) and 9.7 vs. 12.6% floor eggs (Experiment 2) when compared with birds reared without perches. The opportunity to learn perching behavior during rearing influences laying and nesting behavior in broiler breeders.