Free range behaving birds produce less eggs

Hens that are kept under free range conditions automatically have more freedom of movement. Those birds that use their freedom abundantly tend to lay less eggs however. Breeding therefore should focus on responding to this behaviour. By Wiebke Icken , and Dr. Rudolf Preisinger, Lohmann Tierzucht, Cuxhaven, Germany With the aid of a new transponder technology, the free-range behaviour and laying performance of layers can be tested simultaneously. Lohmann Tierzucht, together with the Bavarian Sta