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Cooled Perch Effects On Performance And Well-Being Traits In Caged White Leghorn Hens, J Y. Hu, P Y. Hester, M M. Makagon, G Vezzoli, R S. Gates, Y Xiong, H W. Cheng

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

We assessed the effects of chilled water cooling perches on hen performance and physiological and behavioral parameters under “natural” high temperatures during the 2013 summer with a 4-hour acute heating episode. White Leghorns at 16 wk of age (N = 162) were randomly assigned to 18 cages (n = 9) arranged into 3 units. Each unit was assigned to one of the 3 treatments through 32 wk of age: 1) cooled perches, 2) air perches, and 3) no perches. Chilled water (10◦C) was circulated through the cooled perches when cage ambient temperature exceeded 25^◦C. At the age of …