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The Welfare of Domestic Fowl and Other Captive Birds pp 137–164Cite as

The Physical Environment and Its Effect on Welfare

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Part of the book series: Animal Welfare ((AWNS,volume 9))

Abstract

Modern domestic fowl are kept in a wide array of housing systems, depending on their use (meat or egg production), stage of life of the birds (brooding, rearing, breeding or egg laying) and geographical location. The nature of the physical environment in different systems varies considerably. In farmyard and free-range systems, for example, birds may be kept outdoors at lower animal densities for a large portion of the day. The birds generally have greater control over their microenvironment and can seek shelter. They are exposed to natural daylight, a variety of substrates and may experience a wide range in environmental temperature and weather conditions, depending on climate. At the other end of the spectrum are complete confinement houses where birds are generally kept at higher densities and nearly all aspects of the physical environment are controlled through automated systems. These types of houses are illuminated solely by artificial lighting, and temperature and air quality are controlled via mechanical ventilation systems. In these types of systems, birds have less control over their microenvironments and are exposed to a much narrower range of physical conditions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada, N1G 2W1

    Tina Widowski

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  1. Tina Widowski
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Animal & Poultry Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, N1G 2W1, Canada

    Ian J. H. Duncan

  2. Cruelty to Animals, Royal Society for the Prevention of, Wilberforce Way, Horsham, W.Sussex, RH13 9RS, United Kingdom

    Penny Hawkins

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Widowski, T. (2010). The Physical Environment and Its Effect on Welfare. In: Duncan, I., Hawkins, P. (eds) The Welfare of Domestic Fowl and Other Captive Birds. Animal Welfare, vol 9. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3650-6_6

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