Chicken

The behavioural priorities of laying hens: the effects of two methods of environmental enrichment on time budget

Environmental enrichment and/or feeding from the [woodchips] litter reduces agonistic behaviour and possibly frustration.

Year Published: 1996Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Bubier, N. E. 1996. The behavioural priorities of laying hens: the effects of two methods of environmental enrichment on time budget. Behavioural Processes 37, 239-249.

Application of a radiotelemetry system for chronic measurement of blood pressure, heart rate, EEG, and activity in the chicken

This paper reports the first successful chronic monitoring (for 30 days) of blood pressure, heart rate, EEG, and physical activity in a freely moving bird, following (described) implantation of a commercially available (Data Sciences International) radiotelemetry device in a 1.6-kg...

Year Published: 1996Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Savory, C. J., Kostal, L. 1996. Application of a radiotelemetry system for chronic measurement of blood pressure, heart rate, EEG, and activity in the chicken. Physiology and Behavior 61, 963-969.

Environmental enrichment device and egg production in laying hens

A commercially available toy, suspended from the cage roof reduced aggression in laying hens.

Year Published: 1997Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Baroli, D., Ghiandoni, S., Mantovani, C. et al. 1997. Environmental enrichment device and egg production in laying hens. In: Proceedings of the European Symposium on Poultry Welfare. Koene, P. , Blokhuis, H. J. (eds), 107-108. Ponsen and Looyen, Wageningen, Netherlands.

Use of visual cover by domestic fowl: a Venetian blind effect? Animal Behaviour 54, 387-395

Studies of domestic fowl suggest that security provided by physical structures affect their behaviour. Chickens housed in pens use areas provided with cover [vertical panels] more often than areas without cover. They spend more time resting and preening in covered...

Year Published: 1997Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Newberry, R. C., Shackleton, D. M. 1997. Use of visual cover by domestic fowl: a Venetian blind effect? Animal Behaviour 54, 387-395.

Feather pecking in domestic chicks: its relation to dustbathing and foraging

The presence of an appropriate substrate for dustbathing [sand] does not prevent domestic chicks from developing feather pecking. On the other hand, housing conditions that promote foraging behaviour [straw] are effective in reducing and preventing feather pecking.

Year Published: 1997Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Huber-Eicher, B., Wechsler, B. 1997. Feather pecking in domestic chicks: its relation to dustbathing and foraging. Animal Behaviour 54, 757-768.

Comfortable quarters for chickens

Outline of basic behavioral needs that must be taken into account for chicken-adequate housing and handling.

Year Published: 1997Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Hafner, M., Staack, M., Filsch, D. W. 1997. Comfortable quarters for chickens. In: Comfortable Quarters for Laboratory Animals, Eighth Edition. Reinhardt, V. (ed), 41-45. Animal Welfare Institute, Washington, DC.

Report on the Welfare of Laying Hens

FAWC's Five Freedoms:Freedom from hunger and thirst by ready access to fresh water and diet to maintain full health and vigour;Freedom from discomfort by providing an appropriate environment, including shelter and comfortable resting area;Freedom from pain, injury and disease by...

Year Published: 1997Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Farm Animal Welfare Council 1997. Report on the Welfare of Laying Hens. Farm Animal Welfare Council, Tolworth, UK.

Effects of restricting access to litter trays on their use by caged laying hens

Hens with access to litter in an otherwise barren environment spent around 18% of their time in litter-related activities, consistent with the view that it is important to provide hens with substrate in which to forage and dust-bathe.

Year Published: 1998Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Hughes, B. O., Channing, C. E. 1998. Effects of restricting access to litter trays on their use by caged laying hens. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 56, 37-45.

Pecking at string by individually caged, adult laying hens: colour preference and their stability

Bunches of string are attractive picking stimuli for laying hens. White or yellow bunches are preferred to blue or orange ones. Despite the brevity of presentation, the birds showed no evidence of habituation upon repeated exposure.

Year Published: 1998Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Jones, R. B., Carmichael, N. L. 1998. Pecking at string by individually caged, adult laying hens: colour preference and their stability. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 60, 11-23.

The effect of foraging material and perch height on feather pecking and feather damage in laying hens

Feather pecking was less frequent in pens with than without polystyrene block [foraging material]. On the other hand, feather damage in week 30 was significantly more pronounced in pens with low than with high perches, but not significantly influenced by...

Year Published: 1998Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Wechsler, B., Huber-Eicher, B. 1998. The effect of foraging material and perch height on feather pecking and feather damage in laying hens. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 58, 131-141.