Chicken

The interaction of humans with food animals: Making husbandry a science

The effects of good human/animal interactions include improved growth and immune response in chickens, and fewer problems in the milking parlour in dairy cattle. Negative handling of pigs has resulted in increased adrenal activity, poorer growth and reduced reproductive performance.

Year Published: 1991Animal Type: Bird, Cattle, Chicken, Pig

Citation: Gonyou, H. W. 1991. The interaction of humans with food animals: Making husbandry a science. In: Applied Animal Behaviour: Past, Present and Future. Appleby, M. C., Horrell, R. I., Petherick, J. C., Rutter, S. M. (eds), 31-33. The Universities Federation for Animal Welfare, Potters Bar, UK.

Rearing conditions and needs for space and litter in laying hens

Many results show that hens in battery cages show abnormal behaviour indicative of frustration. The fact than none of the single factors studies [space, litter] seem to be solely responsible for this frustration may indicate that what is lacking in...

Year Published: 1991Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Faure, J. M. 1991. Rearing conditions and needs for space and litter in laying hens. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 31, 111-117.

On the use of video images as social stimuli in birds: audience effect on alarm calling

Chickens are highly responsive to video images.

Year Published: 1991Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Evans, C. S., Marler, P. 1991. On the use of video images as social stimuli in birds: audience effect on alarm calling. Animal Behaviour 41, 17-26.

Effects of environmental enrichment and genetic strain on the behaviour of white leghorn pullets

Unspecified environmental enrichment reduced fearfulness.

Year Published: 1991Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Church, J. S., Tennessen, T., Webster, A. B. 1991. Effects of environmental enrichment and genetic strain on the behaviour of white leghorn pullets. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 71, 1274 (Abstract).

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.