Challenges of an aviary housing system

Conventional cages for egg production have been banned in the European Union since January 2012. Thus, alternative systems such aviary housing systems have become fairly common. Although an aviary housing system has many advantages, putting laying hens in larger groups in a more complex environment presents new management, health and welfare challenges. In an aviary housing system laying hens have more social interaction, which can increase the risk of infectious diseases spreading to the who