Chicken

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.

Use of pen space by broiler chickens reared at medium or very low densities

A better understanding of the motivation of broiler chickens reared indoors to go to and remain in a different part of the pen (or not) could help to provide appropriate organisation of the rearing space on farms. This study was...

Year Published: 2003Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Arnould, C., Faure, J. M. 2003. Use of pen space by broiler chickens reared at medium or very low densities. British Poultry Science 43, 148-149.

Feather pecking in poultry: The application of science in a search for practical solutions

Bunches of string elicited substantially greater interest than other stimuly, including feathers, and white or yellow string was the most attractive. The birds' manipulation of the string resembled preening. Incorporating silver beads or moving devices reduced pecking. String sustained lengthy...

Year Published: 2004Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Jones, R. B., Blokhuis, H. J., de Jong, I. C. et al. 2004. Feather pecking in poultry: The application of science in a search for practical solutions. Animal Welfare 13(S), 215-219.

Effects of specific noise and music stimuli on stress and fear levels of laying hens of several breeds

The results of the present study indicate that specific noise stimulus (90 dB versus 65 dB) causes stress and fear in laying hens and specific classical music stimulus (75 dB versus 65 dB) has a negative influence on their fearfulness.

Year Published: 2005Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Campo, J. L., Gil, M. G., Dávila, S. G. 2005. Effects of specific noise and music stimuli on stress and fear levels of laying hens of several breeds. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 91(1-2), 75-84.

The effects of novel floorings on dustbathing, pecking and scratching behaviour of caged hens

Birds on litter or string [conventional wire wrapped with garden twine] showed a greater total duration of dustabathing than those on rubber [perforated rubber matting], and birds on litter had a richer repertoire of dustbathing elements.

Year Published: 2005Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Merrill, R. J. N., Nicol, C. J. 2005. The effects of novel floorings on dustbathing, pecking and scratching behaviour of caged hens. Animal Welfare 14, 179-186.

Reduction in feather pecking and improvement of feather condition with the presentation of a string device to chickens

Feather pecking was virtually eliminated when the device remained in the pens from day 1 day of age or when they were presented for 4h per day.

Year Published: 2005Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: McAdie, T. M., Keeling, L. J., Blokhuis, H. J. et al. 2005. Reduction in feather pecking and improvement of feather condition with the presentation of a string device to chickens. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 92, 67-80.

Forced to crowd or choosing to cluster? Spatial distribution indicates social attraction in broiler chickens

At all stocking densities, chickens were more clustered than indifferent (randomly distributed) chickens, and their distribution best fitted a social attraction model in which simulated birds rejected a potential position if their distance from other birds was too great.

Year Published: 2006Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Febrer, K., Jones, T. A., Donnelly, C. A. et al. 2006. Forced to crowd or choosing to cluster? Spatial distribution indicates social attraction in broiler chickens . Animal Behaviour 72(6), 1291-1300.

The preference of laying hens for perforated Astroturf over conventional wire as a dustbathing substrate in furnished cages

A strong preference was found for dustbathing on Astroturf flooring.

Year Published: 2006Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Merrill, R. J. N., Cooper, J. J., Albentosa, M. J. et al. 2006. The preference of laying hens for perforated Astroturf over conventional wire as a dustbathing substrate in furnished cages. Animal Welfare 15, 173-178.