Stress in Broiler Chickens Due to Acute Noise Exposure
Stress effects from acute noise exposure were monitored in a group of ROSS 308 broiler chickens (n = 80), aged 42 days. The experiment simulated slaughterhouse sounds to which the broilers were exposed for 10 min in the test enclosure. Effects of acute noise exposure at two different levels (80 dB and 100 dB) were […]
Modification of fear in domestic chicks, Gallus gallus domesticus, via regular handling and early environmental enrichment
Although its adaptive properties are recognized, fear can harm the welfare and performance of intensively housed poultry. Its alleviation in individually caged domestic chicks via the independent or integrated application of regular handling and environmental enrichment regimes was investigated. The test situations incorporated varying degrees of exposure to novel, inanimate stimuli and of human involvement. […]
A critical review of fear tests used on cattle, pigs, sheep, poultry and horses
Fear is arguably the most commonly investigated emotion in domestic animals. In the current review we attempt to establish the level of repeatability and validity found for fear tests used on cattle, pigs, sheep and goats, poultry and horses. We focus the review on the three most common types of fear tests: the arena test […]
Death feigning by grass snakes in response to handling by human “predators.”
Death feigning, a variant of tonic immobility, is usually interpreted as a last-resort antipredator measure. The authors describe death feigning in grass snakes (Natrix natrix) and test some of its potential correlates. Death feigning was seen in 66% of wild-caught snakes but was not seen in hatchlings from laboratory-incubated eggs. Minimal indication of death feigning […]
Differences in fearfulness indicated by tonic immobility between laying hens in aviaries and in cages
The aim of this study was to investigate whether there were differences in fearfulness between laying hens (Gallus gallus domesticus) housed in aviaries and in cages. The tonic immobility (TI) test was used to assess the fearfulness. Norwegian light hybrid White Leghorn hens were housed in battery cages and in three types of aviaries: the […]
Tonic immobility in Anolis carolinensis: Effects of time and conditions of captivity
Changes in the tonic immobility (TI) response in Anolis carolinensis were investigated as a function of duration and condition of captivity in five experiments. Although anoles ultimately show significant decreases in durations of immobility with repeated elicitations of the response, there was an increase in both the mean and variance of immobility durations of subjects […]
Human Handling and Presentation of a Novel Object Evoke Independent Dimensions of Fear in Japanese Quail
Fear is a concept comprising several dimensions, but the nature of these dimensions and the relationships between them remain elusive. To investigate these dimensions in birds, we have used two genetic lines of quail divergently selected on tonic immobility duration, a behavioural index of fear. These two lines differ in their behavioural response to some, […]
Plumage damage in free-range laying hens: Behavioural characteristics in the rearing period and the effects of environmental enrichment and beak-trimming
Severe feather-pecking, whereby birds peck at and pull out the feathers of other birds, is one of the greatest welfare concerns and the most prevalent behavioural problem in laying hens. It can be extremely difficult to control, especially in non-cage laying flocks. Despite a multitude of studies on the topic, the principal underlying causes remain […]
Unpredictable and repeated negative stimuli increased emotional reactivity in male quail
Chronic stress is considered detrimental for an individual as it is a long-lasting negative emotional state, without or with a limited habituation. The reactivity and sensitivity of animals to stressors depend on the animal’s organismic characteristics such as sex. In poultry, the studies dealing with chronic stress were mainly performed on females. Our study then […]
Fear and coping styles of outdoor-preferring, moderate-outdoor and indoor-preferring free-range laying hens
Free-range systems are increasing in popularity as outdoor access is perceived to improve hen welfare, but radio-frequency identification tracking of individuals shows not all hens access the range daily with some hens never going outside. The individual variation in range use may be correlated with individual differences in fear and coping styles. In this study, […]