Chicken

Quantifying the environmental requirements of layer hens by behavioural demand functions

Hens worked as readily for access to litter [peat] as they did for food. It was inferred that access to a litter substrate is highly valued by hens.

Year Published: 1994Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Matthews, L. R., Temple, W., Foster, T. M. et al. 1994. Quantifying the environmental requirements of layer hens by behavioural demand functions. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 40, 91 (Abstract).

Individual variation in response to stressors in farm animals: Implication for experimenters

Several ways of reducing stress during experiments are suggested and the need for skillful and humane handling is emphasized. .. Any modification of the handling procedure aimed at reducing its stressful nature would be beneficial. .. It is concluded that...

Year Published: 1994Animal Type: Bird, Cattle, Chicken, Equine, Pig, Sheep

Citation: Manteca, X., Deag, J. M. 1994. Individual variation in response to stressors in farm animals: Implication for experimenters. Animal Welfare 3, 213-218.

An evaluation of the effect of operant feeders on welfare of hens maintained on litter

Operant feeding was evaluated as a potential method for preventing feather pecking in laying hens kept on deep litter. The data presented led to the conclusion that operant feeders should be combined with conventional feeders, and birds should be fed...

Year Published: 1994Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Lindberg, A. C., Nicol, C. J. 1994. An evaluation of the effect of operant feeders on welfare of hens maintained on litter. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 41, 211-227.

Foot and skeletal disorders in laying hens

Flat-surfaced, mushroom-shaped, wooden perches reduce keel damage when compared with traditional, wide, rectangular wooden perches [which cause less damage than those with circular cross-section].

Year Published: 1994Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Tauson, R., Abrahamsson, P. 1994. Foot and skeletal disorders in laying hens. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavia, Section A - Animal Science 44, 110-119.

Effects of regular handling and exposure to an outside area on subsequent fearfulness and dispersal in domestic hens

Repeated exposure of immature birds to an outside area [enriched environment] reduced fear levels to a greater degree than did regular handling alone. These results are in accord with studies which suggest that previous regular exposure to a complex environment...

Year Published: 1995Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Grigor, P. N., Hughes, B. O., Appleby, M. C. 1995. Effects of regular handling and exposure to an outside area on subsequent fearfulness and dispersal in domestic hens. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 44, 47-55.

Endogenous analgesia in the chicken

When chickens were placed in pairs into pens containing a deep layer of wood shavings, they either showed complete analgesia or significantly less pain-related behavioral reactions to a joint inflammation produced by urate injection. When tested in the barren cage,...

Year Published: 1995Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Gentle, M. J., Corr, S. A. 1995. Endogenous analgesia in the chicken. Neuroscience Letters 201, 211-215.

Environmental enrichment for laying hens – Spherical objects in the feed trough

Brightly coloured spherical objects [balls 4-9 cm in diameter] placed in the feed trough are considered to be a promising method of successful environmental enrichment [simulating ground-litter] for caged laying hens. There was no indication of habituation.

Year Published: 1995Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Sherwin, C. M. 1995. Environmental enrichment for laying hens - Spherical objects in the feed trough. Animal Welfare 4, 41-51.

Enrichment for farm animals

Review of basic principles of adequate housing and handling of farm animals in the research laboratory setting.

Year Published: 1995Animal Type: All/General, Bird, Cattle, Chicken, Equine, Pig, Sheep

Citation: Appleby, M. C. 1995. Enrichment for farm animals. Animal Welfare Information Center [AWIC] Resource Series 2, 63-67.

Approach/avoidance response of domestic chicks to familiar and unfamiliar video images of biologically neutral stimuli

Chicks are highly responsive to video images. Their reactions .. provide evidence of some attraction for novelty. .. If complex video images are intrinsically attractive to chicks they might provide a highly visible form of additional stimulation; their easily varied...

Year Published: 1996Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Jones, R. B., Larkins, C., Hughes, B. O. 1996. Approach/avoidance response of domestic chicks to familiar and unfamiliar video images of biologically neutral stimuli. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 48, 81-98.

Fear and adaptability in poultry: insights, implications and imperatives

Environmental enrichment can reduce fear responses and feather pecking.

Year Published: 1996Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Jones, R. B. 1996. Fear and adaptability in poultry: insights, implications and imperatives. World's Poultry Science Journal 52, 131-174.