THERMAL PERCHES AS WARMING DEVICES FOR REDUCING COLD STRESS IN LAYING HENS

Our long-term goal is to develop a thermal system which can be used for entire year, to reduce heat stress during summer months and cold stress during winter months. Project objectives are to determine 1) if warmed perches improve thermal comfort and welfare for hens during cold temperatures, 2) if warmed perches prevent cold stress-induced behavioral and neurophysiological changes, improving cold adaptation in hens, and 3) conduct engineering and economic analyses of the costs of warmed perches and perform sensitivity analyses of key economic parameters.