Effects of Increased Housing Space Without Altering Stocking Density on Body Weight, Stress, and Gut Microbiome in Broiler Chickens.

ABSTRACT: Effective poultry management practices that promote chicken health are crucial for producing higher-quality chicken meat at a lower cost. This study examined the hypothesis that increasing space while maintaining stocking density may positively impact poultry health. We evaluated body weight (BW) as an indicator of growth, stress markers, and the composition of the gut microbiome by comparing two housing sizes: smaller (control) and larger (treatment) spaces, with 10 birds per space and a stocking density of 12.3 birds/m². Chickens in the larger space had 15% higher BW (p = 0.06) compared to those in the smaller space when significance was evaluated at p < 0.10. Stress indicators such as blood cortisol (acute) and brain FKBP51 did not differ significantly. F

SUBMITTER: Kim EB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11816066 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature