Chicken

The preference of hens for pecking simple objects of different colours

Hens rapidly habituate to simple pecking objects [coloured, wooden cylinders (30 x 10 mm)] hung in their cage.

Year Published: 1991Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Sherwin, C. M. 1991. The preference of hens for pecking simple objects of different colours. Proceedings of the Congress of the Society of Veterinary Ethology, 166-156 (Abstract).

Reducing feather pecking in laying hens by behavioural methods

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

Year Published: 1991Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Norgaard-Nielsen, G. 1991. Reducing feather pecking in laying hens by behavioural methods. In: Applied Animal Behaviour: Past, Present and Future. Appleby, M. C., Horrell, R. I., Petherick, J. C., Rutter, S. M. (eds), 79. The Universities Federation for Animal Welfare, Potters Bar, UK.

Ecological aspects of chicken husbandry – Interaction between environmental condition, behavioural activity of hens and quality of deep litter

Under low light conditions behaviour activity decreases but feather pecking increases strongly. Feather pecking therefore can be interpreted as a deficiency in light stimuli for the initiation of normal behaviour patterns in a deep litter system.

Year Published: 1991Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Martin, G. 1991. Ecological aspects of chicken husbandry - Interaction between environmental condition, behavioural activity of hens and quality of deep litter. In: Alternatives in Animal Husbandry. Boehnke, E. , Mokenthin, V. (eds), 87-94. University of Kassel, Witzenhausen, Germany.

Effects of pecking incentives during rearing on feather pecking of laying hens

The provision of grain or other objects - which encourage pecking behaviour - during rearing reduces the incidence of feather pecking when the animals are mature.

Year Published: 1992Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Blokhuis, H. J., van der Haar, J. W. 1992. Effects of pecking incentives during rearing on feather pecking of laying hens. British Poultry Science 33, 17-24.

Effects of perches in laying cages on welfare and production of hens

Caged hens spent 25 to 50% of the light period and around 85% of the dark period roosting on perches. Perches with a rectangular cross-section caused less damage to the feet of birds than those with a circular cross-section.

Year Published: 1992Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Duncan, E. T., Appleby, M. C., Hughes, B. O. 1992. Effects of perches in laying cages on welfare and production of hens. British Poultry Science 33, 25-35.

The effects of the researcher on the behavior of poultry

Year Published: 1992Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Duncan, I. J. H. 1992. The effects of the researcher on the behavior of poultry. In: The Inevitable Bond: Examining Scientist-Animal Interaction. Davis, H. , Balfour, D. (eds), 285-294. Cambridge Press, Cambridge, UK.

Environmental enrichment influences on body weight, feathering, food condition and behaviour of caged white leghorn hens

Novel objects, providing a diversity of tactile, visual, and auditory stimuli, hung in front of one row of caged within reach of the caged hens, improved foot and feather conditions. Enriched hens were more confident in a novel environment.

Year Published: 1992Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Church, J. S., Tennessen, T., Webster, A. B. 1992. Environmental enrichment influences on body weight, feathering, food condition and behaviour of caged white leghorn hens. Journal of Animal Science 70(Supplement 1), 175 (Abstract).

The significance of fowl’s bathing in dust

Dustbathing in fowls (such as chickens) consists of tossing the litter onto and between the fluffed feathers and subsequently enclosing it by flattening the feathers. Recommendations are given concerning adequate dustbathing litter. A chronic deprivation of adequate litter leads to...

Year Published: 1992Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Van Liere, D. W. 1992. The significance of fowl's bathing in dust. Animal Welfare 1, 187-202.

Comparison of behavior and performance of laying hens housed in battery cages and an aviary

Year Published: 1992Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Tanaka, T., Hurnik, J. F. 1992. Comparison of behavior and performance of laying hens housed in battery cages and an aviary. Poultry Science 71, 235-243.

Effects of nest linings, pecking strips and partitioning on nest use and behaviour in modified battery cages

Hens spent most time in and made most visits to nest type C [peckable strip of artificial grass attached above the nest rear]. They made most visits to the nest [3 nest sites for 4 hens per cage] when solid...

Year Published: 1992Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Reed, H. J., Nicol, C. J. 1992. Effects of nest linings, pecking strips and partitioning on nest use and behaviour in modified battery cages. British Poultry Science 33, 719-727.