Present-day intensive animal husbandry systems can cause animals many stressful situations from physical pain to mental disorders, which affect their welfare. This can be seen also in laying hens housing systems where problems such as high stocking density, feather pecking, different injuries, diseases etc. can be present. The aim of B. Sc. Thesis was to study different laying hens housing systems and find out which system is the most appropriate from the welfare point of view, taking into account each system disadvantages and advantages. When we speak of the most appropriate housing systems for laying hens, we must adjust many different points of view such as animal health, animal physical and mental needs, human health and safe food and by all that, we must not forget about the environment. Organic and free-range systems seem the most appropriate for keeping laying hens from the welfare point of view, because they both offer hens a diverse environment. However, in both it is harder to carry out biosecurity measures and they both request large grazing area. Floor and multi-tier system seem more appropriate for keeping laying hens than cages in terms of animal welfare, as they offer a more diverse environment and more space per animal. In both, the feather pecking, different leg problems and diseases occur to a greater extent. In multi-tier system severe keel bone injuries occur. Enriched battery cages are the most inappropriate system for keeping laying hens, because they offer little space per animal and poor environment. However, in cages hens are easier to control and fewer of the above mentioned problems occur than in alternative housing systems.
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