Chicken

Evaluation of two compressed air foam systems for culling caged layer hens

Outbreaks of avian influenza (AI) and other highly contagious poultry diseases continue to be a concern for those involved in the poultry industry. In the situation of an outbreak, emergency depopulation of the birds involved is necessary. In this project,...

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

Citation: Benson, E., Weiher, J., Alphin, R. et al. 2018. Evaluation of two compressed air foam systems for culling caged layer hens. Animals 8(5), 61.

Hens vary their vocal repertoire and structure when anticipating different types of reward

The vocalizations of nonhuman animals are considered potential indicators of motivational or internal state. In many species, different call types, and structural variation within call types, encode information about physical characteristics such as age or sex, or about variable traits...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: McGrath, N., Dunlop, R. Dwyer, C. et al. 2017. Hens vary their vocal repertoire and structure when anticipating different types of reward. Animal Behaviour 130, 79-96.

Effects of carprofen, meloxicam and butorphanol on broiler chickens’ performance in mobility tests

Lame broiler chickens perform poorly in standardised mobility tests and have nociceptive thresholds that differ from those of non-lame birds, even when confounding factors such as differences in bodyweight are accounted for. This study investigated whether these altered responses could...

Year Published: 2016Topics: AnalgesiaAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Hothersall, B., Caplen, G., Parker, R. M. A. et al. 2016. Effects of carprofen, meloxicam and butorphanol on broiler chickens' performance in mobility tests. Animal Welfare 25(1), 55-67.

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.