Chicken

Influence of vertical panels on use of space by domestic fowl

In the wild, cover is used by animals to seek shelter from the elements, protection from predators and aggressive conspecifics and as a way to reduce inter-animal communication. Rearing environments for captive raised fowl often contain open areas that are...

Year Published: 2001Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Cornetto, T. L., Estevez , I. 2001. Influence of vertical panels on use of space by domestic fowl. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 71 , 141-153.

Influence of prior exposure to wood shavings on feather pecking, dustbathing and foraging in adult laying hens

Adult birds that had never experienced shavings performed significantly more feather pecking than birds in any other treatment group. Thus, exposure to shavings, even for the minimum exposure duration of 10 days, was protective. However, current substrate wasof great importance...

Year Published: 2001Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Nicol, C. J., Lindberg, A. C., Phillips, A. J. et al. 2001. Influence of prior exposure to wood shavings on feather pecking, dustbathing and foraging in adult laying hens. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 73, 141-155.

The effect of a Freedom Food enrichment on the behaviour of broilers on commercial farms

The effect of an environmental enrichment - straw bales - on the behaviour of growing broiler chicks was investigated. ... The birds provided with bales perched on them and clustered around them. The most striking result, however, was that, even...

Year Published: 2001Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Kells, A., Dawkins, M. S., Borja, M. C. 2001. The effect of a Freedom Food enrichment on the behaviour of broilers on commercial farms. Animal Welfare 10, 347-356.

Reducing feather pecking when raising laying hen chicks in aviary systems

Aviary systems for laying hens offer several advantages over battery cages. However, pecking the feathers of conspecifics remains a serious problem that negatively affects the welfare of the birds. .. From experimental studies with small groups, it has been shown...

Year Published: 2001Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Huber-Eicher, B., Sebo, F. 2001. Reducing feather pecking when raising laying hen chicks in aviary systems. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 73, 59-68.

Scientists’ assessment of the impact of housing and management on animal welfare

In this article, we show that a broad consensus basis exists among welfare scientists concerning the assessment of farm animal welfare. .. Abnormal behavior[s] .. may indicate stress or some frustrated motivation, but they also may represent the animals' way...

Year Published: 2001Animal Type: All/General, Bird, Chicken, Pig

Citation: Anonymous 2001. Scientists' assessment of the impact of housing and management on animal welfare. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 4, 3-52.

Comfortable quarters for chickens in research institutions

Practical recommendations for the species-adequate housing and handling of chickens.

Year Published: 2002Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Folsch, D. W., Hofner, M., Staack, M. et al. 2002. Comfortable quarters for chickens in research institutions. In: Comfortable Quarters for Laboratory Animals, Ninth Edition. Reinhardt, V. , Reinhardt, A. (eds.), 104-111. Animal Welfare Institute, Washington, DC.

Using artificial cover to reduce aggression and disturbances in domestic fowl

Differential use of space by domestic fowl may contribute to unnecessary aggressive interactions and disturbances among birds. Greater use of space near pen walls results in aggregations of birds around peripheral regions, leaving central areas unoccupied. ... Vertical panels, constructed...

Year Published: 2002Animal Type: Bird, Chicken, Fowl

Citation: Cornetto, T., Estevez, I., Douglas, L. W. 2002. Using artificial cover to reduce aggression and disturbances in domestic fowl. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 75, 325-336.

Social dispersal by domestic chicks in a novel environment: reassuring properties of a familiar odourant

Our results .. support our hypothesis that familiar odourants can act as reassuring agents in otherwise unfamiliar situations. These findings may have important implications for poultry welfare.

Year Published: 2002Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Jones, B. R., Facchin, L., McCorquodale, C. 2002. Social dispersal by domestic chicks in a novel environment: reassuring properties of a familiar odourant. Animal Behaviour 63, 659-666.

The push-door for measuring motivation in hens: Laying hens are motivated to perch at night

Hens were prepared to work by pushing open weighted doors for access to perches for night-time roosting.

Year Published: 2002Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Olsson, I. A. S., Keeling, L. J. 2002. The push-door for measuring motivation in hens: Laying hens are motivated to perch at night. Animal Welfare 11, 11-19.

The value of environmental resources to domestic hens: A comparison of the work-rate for food and for nests as a function of time

Hens place a higher value on gaining access to a discrete nest-site prior to oviposition than they do on gaining access to food following 4 h food deprivation. (p. 39)

Year Published: 2003Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Cooper, J. J., Appleby, M. C. 2003. The value of environmental resources to domestic hens: A comparison of the work-rate for food and for nests as a function of time. Animal Welfare 12, 39-52.