Effects of Stocking Density on the Incidence of Scabby Hip Syndrome Among Broiler Chickens

An experiment, involving 1200 broiler chickens, was conducted to evaluate the effects of stocking density (providing either 840, 720, 585, or 454 cm2 of floor space per bird) on the incidence of scabby hip syndrome at slaughter (42 days). The incidence of scabby hip syndrome was higher at the higher stocking density. Differences were significant for males and approached significance for females (P less than .05). Body weights (42 days) were lower among birds housed at the higher stocking density levels but other traits were not significantly affected (P greater than .05).