Priorities in the cage size and flooring preferences of domestic hens (1981)

Dawkins, M.

Abstract

The experiments described demonstrate that hens prefer larger to smaller cages and litter floors to wire ones, but that they give highest priority to flooring. ...As far as the hens' immediate response to their environment is concerned, spacer per se is not the only relevant factor. Just as, if not more, important is the flooring. Hens have shown this by entering cages which are so small that they can hardly turn around in order to gain access to litter. [Obviously, it must be very uncomfortable for chicken to be housed on wire floor.]