Chicken

Growth and the plasma concentrations of growth hormone and prolactin in chicks: Effects of ‘environmental enrichment’, sex and strain

The enriched boxes were similar to the bare ones but also contained the following objects: two large red rubbing bungs, a golf ball, a bottle top, two coloured table tennis balls hanging from the cage lid, two lengths of string......

Year Published: 1980Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Jones, R. B., Harvey, S., Hughes, B. O. et al. 1980. Growth and the plasma concentrations of growth hormone and prolactin in chicks: Effects of 'environmental enrichment', sex and strain. British Poultry Science 21(6), 457-462.

Priorities in the cage size and flooring preferences of domestic hens

The experiments described demonstrate that hens prefer larger to smaller cages and litter floors to wire ones, but that they give highest priority to flooring. ...As far as the hens' immediate response to their environment is concerned, spacer per se...

Year Published: 1981Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Dawkins, M. 1981. Priorities in the cage size and flooring preferences of domestic hens. British Poultry Science 22, 255-263.

Opioid blockade and social comfort in chicks

When young animals are separated from their normal social environment in groups they distress vocalize (DV) less than when isolated alone. Opioid blockade with naloxone (1 mg/kg peripherally, and 1 microgram centrally) increased crying more in group tested chicks than...

Year Published: 1980Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Panksepp J., Bean, N. J., Bishop, P. et al. 1980. Opioid blockade and social comfort in chicks. Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior 13(5), 673-83.

Endogenous opioids and social behavior

Evidence for the hypothesis that brain-opioids mediate social affect and social attachments is summarized. Opiates and opioids are very effective in reducing social separation-induced distress vocalizations (DVs), in puppies, young guinea pigs and chicks, while opiate antagonists can increase DVs....

Year Published: 1980Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken, Dog, Guinea Pig, Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Panksepp, J., Herman, B. H., Vilberg, T. et al. 1980. Endogenous opioids and social behavior. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews 4(4), 473-487.

The effects of regular handling on fear responses in the domestic chick

Regular gentle handling reduces the fear response toward people. Regular handling had no effect on approach towards an inanimate object.

Year Published: 1981Topics: Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, HandlingAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Jones, R. B., Faure, J. M. 1981. The effects of regular handling on fear responses in the domestic chick. Behavioural Processes 6, 135-143.

Tonic immobility ( righting time ) in laying hens housed in cages and pens

The results suggest that caged birds are more fearful than pen-housed ones.

Year Published: 1981Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Jones, R. B., Faure, J. M. 1981. Tonic immobility ( righting time ) in laying hens housed in cages and pens. Applied Animal Ethology (Applied Animal Behaviour Science) 7, 369-372.

Effects of early environmental enrichment upon open-field behavior and timidity in the domestic chick

Group-housed domestic chicks were reared either with objects (enriched) [golf ball, bottle top, lengths of string etc.] or without objects. ... The increased stimulation provided by environmental enrichment may decrease fearfulness in subsequent fear-inducing situations and may enhance the ability...

Year Published: 1982Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Jones, R. B. 1982. Effects of early environmental enrichment upon open-field behavior and timidity in the domestic chick. Developmental Psychobiology 15, 105-111.

Socialization as a factor in resistance to infection, feed efficiency, and response to antigen in chickens

Regular human handling at an early age reduces fear and facilitates easier, i.e., less stressful handling during procedures.

Year Published: 1982Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Gross, W. B., Siegel, P. B. 1982. Socialization as a factor in resistance to infection, feed efficiency, and response to antigen in chickens. American Journal of Veterinary Research 43, 2010-2012.

Rest in poultry

Hens often use high perches in preference to low perches, when offered a choice.

Year Published: 1984Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Blokhuis, H. J. 1984. Rest in poultry. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 12, 289-303.

Some observations on the development of feather pecking in poultry

Feather pecking occurs much more often when chicken are kept on wire floor rather then litter which allows the hens to peck up additional food particles. It is argued that feather pecking in the absence of a suitable litter substrate...

Year Published: 1984Topics: Abnormal/Problematic BehaviorAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Blokhuis, H. J., Arkes, J. G. 1984. Some observations on the development of feather pecking in poultry. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 12, 145-157.