This trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of different stocking densities on performance of caged layers during the growing and laying periods and to verify the effects in the next phase. In the growing period (0-6 weeks), eight hundred and four chicks (Isa Brown ) were assigned to 100 x 80 x 35 cm cages, according to a completely randomized design, with four treatments (275.86, 250.00, 228.57, and 210.52 cm² per bird) and four replicates. No significant effects of treatments on weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion and uniformity were observed during the growing period. In the 6-16 w period, 720 pullets were randomly assigned to 100 x 50 x 50 cm cages, according to a completely randomized design of 4 x 3 factorial arrangement (four densities from 0-6 weeks and three densities from 6-16 weeks), with different treatments (500.00, 416.67, and 357.14 cm² per bird) and four replicates. No significant differences among treatments in the 6-16 w period on weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion and uniformity were observed. In the laying phase, 540 laying hens were randomly assigned to 100 x 45 x 45 cm cages, according to a completely randomized design of 3 x 3 factorial arrangement (three stocking densities in the 6-16 w periodand three caging densities in the laying phase), with different treatments (562.15, 450.00, and 375.00 cm² per hen) and five replicates. Significant effects of cage density on egg weight and feed intake were detected. No significant effects of cage density on bird performance in the growing and laying periods were observed.
cage; density; laying hens; performance
