Chicken

Development and refinement of three animal-based broiler chicken welfare indicators

This study aimed to refine bird-soiling as a broiler chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) welfare indicator, and to develop and test two additional indicators, namely contact dermatitis on the breast and abdominal areas and carcase scratches. We constructed a questionnaire with...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Souza, A., Soriano, V. S., Schnaider, M. A. et al. 2018. Development and refinement of three animal-based broiler chicken welfare indicators. Animal Welfare 27(3), 263-274.

Validation of an accelerometer to quantify inactivity in laying hens with or without keel-bone fractures

Accelerometers are used to remotely monitor activity in various species in studies that quantify pain, document behavioural patterns, and measure individual activity differences. Studies validating accelerometers typically quantify various active states; however, targeting states specific to periods of inactivity, such...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Casey-Trott, T. M., Widowski, T. M. 2018. Validation of an accelerometer to quantify inactivity in laying hens with or without keel-bone fractures. Animal Welfare 27(2), 103-114.

Radiographic examination of keel bone damage in living laying hens of different strains kept in two housing systems

A high prevalence of deviations and fractures of the keel bone is a widespread welfare problem in laying hens. The aim of this study was to experimentally investigate this multifactorial problem throughout the laying period and to compare the prevalence...

Year Published: 2018Topics: HousingAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Eusemann, B. K., Baulain, U., Schrader, L. et al. 2018. Radiographic examination of keel bone damage in living laying hens of different strains kept in two housing systems. PLOS ONE 13(5), e0194974.

Effects of noxious stimuli on the electroencephalogram of anaesthetised chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus)

The reliable assessment and management of avian pain is important in the context of animal welfare. Overtly expressed signs of pain vary substantially between and within species, strains and individuals, limiting the use of behaviour in pain studies. Similarly, physiological...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: McIlhone, A. E., Beausoleil, N. J., Kells, N. J. et al. 2018. Effects of noxious stimuli on the electroencephalogram of anaesthetised chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus). PLOS ONE 13(4), e0196454.

Space use by 4 strains of laying hens to perch, wing flap, dust bathe, stand and lie down

The laying hen industry is implementing aviary systems intended to improve welfare by providing hens with more space and resources to perform species-specific behaviors. To date, limited research has examined spatial requirements of various strains of laying hens for performing...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Stocking DensityAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Riddle, E. R., Ali, A. B. A., Campbell, D. L. M. et al. 2018. Space use by 4 strains of laying hens to perch, wing flap, dust bathe, stand and lie down. PLOS ONE 13(1), e0190532.

A screen peck task for investigating cognitive bias in laying hens

Affect-induced cognitive judgement biases occur in both humans and animals. Animals in a more negative affective state tend to interpret ambiguous cues more negatively than animals in a more positive state and vice versa. Investigating animals' responses to ambiguous cues...

Year Published: 2016Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Deakin, A., Browne, W. J., Hodge, J. J. L. et al. 2016. A screen peck task for investigating cognitive bias in laying hens. PLOS ONE 11(7), e0158222.

Emotional behavior in the domestic chicken (White Leghorn) as a function of age and developmental environment

Enrichment (presence of objects) during development decreases open-field emotionality.

Year Published: 1963Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Canland, D. K., Nagy, Z. M., Conklyn, D. H. 1963. Emotional behavior in the domestic chicken (White Leghorn) as a function of age and developmental environment. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology 56, 1069-1073.

Effects of visual complexity during rearing on chicks’ reactions to environmental change

Reaction to novel change was less in birds whose rearing conditions had been made more complex by the presence of a moving object or mirror.

Year Published: 1969Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Broom, D. M. 1969. Effects of visual complexity during rearing on chicks' reactions to environmental change. Animal Behaviour 17, 773-780.

Free and operant feeding in domestic fowls

Chicken will work for food in the presence of free identical food. It is interesting that we failed to note any clear influence exerted by hunger motivation.

Year Published: 1972Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Duncan, I. J. H., Hughes, B. O. 1972. Free and operant feeding in domestic fowls. Animal Behaviour 20, 775-777.

Growth in the Hubbard broiler: Increased size following early handling

Regular gentle handling at a young age resulted in improved growth rate.

Year Published: 1976Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Thompson, C. I. 1976. Growth in the Hubbard broiler: Increased size following early handling. Developmental Psychobiology 9, 459-464.