Behavioural responses of laying hens following a period of spatial restriction
Publication Type: |
Journal Article |
Year of Publication: |
1987 |
Authors: |
Christine J. Nicol |
Publication/Journal: |
Animal Behaviour |
Keywords: |
behaviour, behavioural response, chickens |
ISBN: |
0003-3472 |
Abstract:
Six laying hens were housed singly in small cages (area 847 cm2) and six were housed singly in large cages (2310 cm2) for a period of 4 weeks. Many significant differences were found between the behaviour of the birds in the two groups. In addition, the frequency of performance of some activities, e.g. wing stretching and preening, over the 4 weeks declined in both groups, although these were most pronounced for the hens in small cages. After this period in the home cages the birds were observed simultaneously, as matched pairs, in a pair of large test cages (2310 cm2). Wing stretching, feather raising, tail wagging, leg stretching and wing flapping performed at a low frequency in the small home cages, were performed at a high frequency `rebound’ rate in the test cages. When the experiment was replicated, this rebound was even more pronounced for birds that had undergone a second period of 4 weeks in the small home cages. In contrast to the gradual decline in activity performance observed in the home cages, this rebound was virtually instantaneous. The possibilities are discussed that this rebound may result either from an increase in motivational tendency during the period of spatial restriction or from a response to an increase in novelty.