Chicken

Preferences of domestic hens for cage size and floor types as measured by operant conditioning

Choice tests indicated that hens prefer large cages rather than small ones, and littered floors rather than wire floors. Hens placed only a low priority on having access to litter relative to increased cage size.

Year Published: 1987Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Lagadic, H., Faure, J.-M. 1987. Preferences of domestic hens for cage size and floor types as measured by operant conditioning. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 19, 147-155.

Effects on productivity and aggressive behavior of laying hens of solid versus wire cage partitions and bird density

The effects of solid metal cage partitions or wire mesh cage partitions and two cage densities (5 or 7 birds/60.9 cm × 35.6-cm shallow cage) on production performance traits, aggressive behavior, and feather covering of White Leghorn layers were assessed...

Year Published: 1987Topics: Housing, Stocking DensityAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Cunningham, D. L., Gvaryahu, G. 1987. Effects on productivity and aggressive behavior of laying hens of solid versus wire cage partitions and bird density. Poultry Science 66, 1583-1586.

Effects of playthings on prevention of cannibalism in rearing chickens

Access to enrichment items (e.g., corks, buttons, balls) reduced the incidence of cannibalism in young birds.

Year Published: 1987Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Yasutomi, M., Adachi, N. 1987. Effects of playthings on prevention of cannibalism in rearing chickens. Japanese Poultry Science 24, 372-373.

Short-term feather maintenance as a function of dust-bathing in laying hens

Dust-bathing regulates the amount of feather lipids and maintains down structure in good conditions in laying hens. Poor feather condition negatively influences animal welfare. Hens need an opportunity to bathe in a dusty substrate.

Year Published: 1987Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Van Liere, D. W., Bokma, S. 1987. Short-term feather maintenance as a function of dust-bathing in laying hens. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 18, 197-204.

Individual or paired exposure of domestic chicks to an open field: some behavioural and adrenocortical consequences

Domestic chicks show elevated plasma corticosterone concentrations when being separated from social companions.

Year Published: 1988Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Jones, R. B., Merry, B. J. 1988. Individual or paired exposure of domestic chicks to an open field: some behavioural and adrenocortical consequences. Behavioural Processes 16, 75-86.

The effect of a sudden change in floor type on pecking behaviour in chicks

Feather pecking is to be considered as redirected ground pecking. Slatted floors appear to contribute to feather pecking. Floors without litter appear to stimulate feather pecking or, in other words, the redirection of ground pecking. .. In order to prevent...

Year Published: 1989Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Blokhuis, H. J. 1989. The effect of a sudden change in floor type on pecking behaviour in chicks. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 22, 65-73.

Filial imprinting, environmental enrichment, and music application – Effects on behavior and performance of meat strain chicks

In conclusion, these preliminary studies on the combined effects of filial imprinting, environmental enrichment, and music on the performance and behavior of meat type chicks, suggest the possible benefits of these procedures, such as reduction of stress behavior [fear response]...

Year Published: 1989Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Gvaryahud, G., Cunningham, D. L., van Tienhoven, A. 1989. Filial imprinting, environmental enrichment, and music application - Effects on behavior and performance of meat strain chicks. Poultry Science 68, 211-217.

Nest site selection and nest-building behaviour in domestic fowl

It is more important for hens to have a nesting site with a substrate that can be moulded with the body and feet than one that can be manipulated with the beak. ... The hen has some 'need' to perform...

Year Published: 1989Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Duncan, I. J. H., Kite, V. G. 1989. Nest site selection and nest-building behaviour in domestic fowl. Animal Behaviour 37, 215-231.

The effect of access to straw in baskets on feather pecking in laying hens

The provision of straw encouraged pecking and reduced feather pecking among hens.

Year Published: 1989Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Norgaard-Nielsen, G. 1989. The effect of access to straw in baskets on feather pecking in laying hens. In: Proceedings of the European Symposium on Poultry Welfare. Faure, J. M. , Mills, A. D. (eds), 269-271. French Branch of the World's Poultry Science Association, Tours, France.

The performance of nest building by domestic hens: is it more important than the construction of a nest?

Nest-building behaviour was not [emphasis added] inhibited by the existence of a preformed nest. This finding does not support the hypothesis that animal welfare in intensive housing can be safeguarded merely by providing that environment which would have been created...

Year Published: 1989Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Hughes, B. O., Duncan, I. J. H., Brown, M. F. 1989. The performance of nest building by domestic hens: is it more important than the construction of a nest? Animal Behaviour 37, 210-214.