By Lilian Schaer
Farmers in Canada raise two types of chickens – those produced for meat and those that lay eggs. And although they’re both poultry, there are some differences in how they live on Canadian farms.
Meat chickens
Chickens raised for meat are commonly called broilers. They live in modern barns where temperature, humidity, light, and ventilation are carefully controlled to make sure birds stay healthy. They also have access to feed and water 24 hours a day, and their diet generally includes a mix of grains and oilseeds, like corn, soybeans, wheat, barley, and canola, as well as minerals and nutrients.
Most broiler barns are what are called “free-run”, which means the birds can move freely around the inside of the barn on a floor covered with a soft bedding material like straw or wood shavings, for example. Some broiler barns are set up to be “free-range”, where birds have access to both the outdoors and the indoor area where they can be protected from bad weather and predators.
Egg-laying and breeding hens
Hens that lay eggs (also called “layers”) and breeding hens (“breeders”, those that produce chicks for egg or meat production) also live in modern barns with carefully monitored temperature, humidity, light and ventilation, just like their broiler cousins. What is different is that these birds – layers and breeders – are the only poultry that can be housed in cages in Canada.
Why cages?
It has to do with their genetic instincts. Birds have hierarchies where dominant hens can be very aggressive towards other hens, pecking at them, pulling feathers out and even creating open wounds as they establish their position in the flock. This is where the expression “pecking order” comes from! These dominant birds can also control other birds’ access to food and water, causing stress, affecting their health, and reducing their ability to lay eggs.
That’s why cages were developed – to help keep birds from getting sick and to avoid pecking injuries, as well as ensure a steady supply of eggs. As farmers, veterinarians, poultry researchers and other specialists learn more about animal behaviour and welfare, the industry is constantly changing and updating the way birds are housed and raised.
Five barn types
Egg-laying hens in Canada can live in five different types of barns:
Conventional housing—In this traditional housing system, hens live in small groups in rows of connected wire cages with continual access to food and water. This helps manage their social behaviours, and mesh floors allow the hens’ manure to fall away, keeping both the birds and their eggs clean. This type of housing is being phased out in Canada and will be eliminated completely by 2036.
Enriched housing—Here, hens live in small group sizes with enough room to perform their natural behaviours. These systems are more spacious and include dust baths, perches and nesting boxes, while still prioritizing bird health, clean eggs and a sanitary environment. This method will be the industry standard in Canada by 2036.
Free-run—Hens live in larger groups in open barns and can move around freely on the entire barn floor. They do not have access to the outside, however. They can scratch, flap their wings, bathe in the dust, and lay their eggs in nesting boxes as well as exercise as they wish.
Aviary—Very similar to free-run barns, but hens in this type of barn have access to several levels for perching, eating, and drinking instead of just a single barn floor. This “3-D” type system can help them develop stronger bones. They lay their eggs in nest boxes and can go down to the barn floor to scratch.
Free-range—Hens in larger groups are raised in barns that are like free-run but the big difference is that they can go outside when the weather is suitable for them to do so. Hens that lay eggs for certified organic production must live in free-range barns and can only be given feed that is also certified as organic.
How do farmers know what to choose?
Each housing system has its advantages and disadvantages for birds, farmers, and consumers. Consumer demand for more open types of housing – free-run, free-range or aviary – mean there are new opportunities for farmers to produce eggs for specific markets, for example. As well, these housing systems give birds much more opportunity to express natural behaviours.
However, birds in free-run and free-range systems are more prone to behavioural problems as large numbers of birds housed together increases feather pecking and other bullying behaviour. It can also be more challenging to monitor and maintain bird health in these types of systems as birds are spread out over larger areas. Typically, these barn types aren’t as productive either resulting in a higher cost for the eggs in the grocery store.
In free-run and free-range barns, all the manure doesn’t drop away, some stays in the litter on the floor, which can impact air quality in the barn as well as bird health. As well, birds tend to lay their eggs anywhere they choose, not just in nesting boxes, making it difficult to keep all eggs clean.
Farmers work hard to balance the need for good bird welfare, consistent food production and consumer demands to choose and use the housing and production approach that works best for their particular situation.
