Coalition For Sustainable Egg Supply, Worker Safety > Food Safety > Environment > Animal Well-Being > Affordability SM

Engaging in a holistic, commercial-scale study to evaluate various laying hen housing systems and potential impacts on food safety, the environment, hen health and well-being, worker health and safety and food affordability, provides food system stakeholders with science-based information on sustainability factors to guide informed production and purchasing decisions.

The research found there are positive and negative impacts and trade-offs associated with each of the three hen housing systems relative to each of the five sustainability areas. Depending on the goals of a food system stakeholder, the trade-offs may be weighed differently. As a result of the Coalition’s work, stakeholders will benefit from science-based information on sustainability factors to guide production and purchasing decisions.

This research represents a snapshot in time – it assesses elements of hen housing and egg production using a single hen breed/strain, in a particular region of the U.S., over the course of three years and two flocks, in these particular housing systems. While it highlights the trade-offs involved and can assist in supporting informed decision-making, caution should be exercised in applying the research results to other scenarios with different variables. 

• The Research Results Report provides an in-depth look at the research findings, with the goal of offering science-based information on sustainability factors to guide production and purchasing decisions

• The Research Results Report Appendix provides additional insight into the research findings through a variety of charts, tables and graphs. 

• The Summary Research Results Report offers an overview of the research findings.

• Interactive Infographic of Hen Housing Impacts offers a unique look at many of the trade-offs inherent to each system. Depending on the goals of a food system stakeholder, the trade-offs may be weighed differently.

• Links to the eight Poultry Science papers published on the research thus far:

• Comparative evaluation of three egg production systems: Housing characteristics and management practices 

• Impact of commercial housing systems and nutrient and energy intake on laying hen performance and egg quality parameters

• Effect of rearing environment on bone growth of pullets 

• An examination of the utility of heterophil-lymphocyte ratios in assessing stress of caged hens

• Environmental assessment of three egg production systems – Part I. Monitoring system and indoor air quality

• Environmental assessment of three egg production systems – Part II. Ammonia, greenhouse gas, and particulate matter emissions

• Microbiological impact of three commercial laying hen housing systems

• Effects of housing system on the costs of commercial egg production

• Failed landings after laying hen flight in a commercial aviary over two flock cycles
  
  
• Litter use by laying hens in a commercial aviary: dust bathing and piling
  
  
  

• Laying hen movement in a commercial aviary: enclosure to floor and back again
  
  
• Perch use by laying hens in a commercial aviary (Accepted: awaiting proofs)