This deliverable combines a list of welfare indicators and methods of assessment relative to on-farm rabbits’ welfare. As no specific European legislation is yet available, the legal requirements of the directive 98/58/EC that apply to rabbits are identified and allocated to four welfare principles: Good Feeding, Good Housing, Good Health and Appropriate Behaviour.

Key words: Health and body condition, skeletal damage,
Level: Husbandry
Type of production: Laying Hen

In laying hen farms, birds’ feet are exposed to prolonged contact with soil, litter, housing equipment such as wire floors or badly designed perches, pecking by conspecific, and may develop lesions. These foot lesions, linked to several factors, can cause discomfort and/or pain to the animals and may lead to mortality. Although well assessed on farm, foot lesions could also be observed after slaughter to assess laying hens’ welfare on-farm and the quality of their housing conditions.