Charakterystyka wykorzystania wybiegów zielonych przez kurczęta Zielononóżki kuropatwianej oraz Sasso C44 z uwzględnieniem ich dobrostanu ang. Characterization of the outdoor runs use by Green-legged Partridge and Sasso C44 chickens including their welfare

Summary

Meat poultry, especially meat chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) constitute the largest percentage of meat supply in Poland (52%). Despite consumers beliefs that birds' access to outdoor free ranges improves chicken welfare, little is known about whether this is true. The aim of the study was to characterize the use of green runs by Green-legged Partridges and Sasso C44 chickens, including aspects of their welfare, assessed on the basis of Welfare Quality project protocol for poultry. To characterize the use of outdoor runs, video recordings were used, from which the frequency of the exits to the outdoor range was extracted, followed by statistical analysis in the SAS program (v. 9.4). Green-legged Partridges used the outdoor runs more often compared to Sasso C44.