Strength of preference for dustbathing and foraging substrates in laying hens (2007)

de Jong, I. C., Wolthuis-Fillerup, M., van Reenen, C. G.

Abstract

The present experiment investigated the substrate preferences of laying hens, with particular respect to dustbathing and foraging behaviour. Individually-tested hens had to push a weighted door to enter one of four resource areas containing either a wire floor, or sand, wood shavings or peat moss as substrate. When the hens showed dustbathing, almost all of them had worked for access to peat moss whereas only some had worked for sand or wood shavings. With respect to foraging behaviour we found no clear substrate preference. We conclude that the value of a particular substrate varies according to its suitability for the expression of specific behaviours, and that there is a strong demand for peat moss for dustbathing.