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Key words:Anise, seed, antibiotic, behavior, performance, stress, fear, immune response.A total of two hundred twenty five day-old Cobb broiler chicks were distributed into five groups (15 birds/ group, three replicates for each treatment). The dietary treatments were designed to fed the chicks of basal diet without supplementation (control), basal diet supplemented with 0.5, 0.75 and 1gm/kg anise seed, and basal diet supplemented with 10g/kg zinc bacitracin (anti-biotic group). Behavioral observation was carried out twice daily (7:00-11:30 am and 13:00-17:30 pm) two days a week for 6 consecutive weeks. Body weight (BW) and feed intake per pen were measured weekly from which body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured. Immune response against NDV was determined at 33 th day of age. At the end of experiment, fear responses, differential leucocyte count, Hb concentration, PCV, and some carcass traits were assayed. Dead birds from each treatment were recorded. The obtained results showed that higher proportion of birds supplemented with anise 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0 gm/kg were engaged in more feeding behavior compared to control one. Birds supplemented with anise seed and antibiotics were engaged in significantly more resting behavior compared to birds in control group. Untreated control birds exhibited significantly higher preening behavior and lower wing stretching and/or wing flapping and dust bathing behaviors compared to anise seed fed groups.At the 43 th day of age birds supplemented with 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0 gm/kg anise seed had significantly higher BW, BWG, and better FCR and had higher carcass percentage compared to birds in control group, but not significantly differed from birds in antibiotic group. Mortality rate was not differed among different treatments. Percent of live weight of bursa and Hb content were significantly higher in anise seed supplemented groups compared to control and anti-biotic groups. Chicks fed basal unsupplemented diet were more fearful in tonnic immobility test and were more stressed and had a significant increase in heterophil / lymphocyte ratio when compared with those in all supplemented diet groups. In contrast, dietary supplementation had no significant effect on antibody titer against NDV.In conclusion, dietary supplementation of broiler chicks with anise 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0 gm/kg improved feeding and comfort behaviors, improved productive performance and bird's welfare (reduced fear and stress) with no effect on immune response. Anise seed could be used as natural alternatives to feed antibiotics in broilers feed.

Two hundred forty day-old Ross broiler chicks were used in this experiment. Chicks were weighed on arrival and randomly assigned to six litter treatments (20 birds per pen) with two replicates for each treatment. The litter treatment consists of six different litter types: Wood shavings (WS), whole rice straw (straw), sand, rice straw covered by a layer of wood shavings (WS + straw), sand covered with wood shavings (WS + sand) and sand covered by a layer of rice straw (straw + sand). Behavioral observation was carried out twice daily, two days a week for 6 consecutive weeks. Body weight (BW) and Feed intake per pen were measured weekly, from which body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured. At 42 days of age, welfare parameters were measured including fear, stress, fluctuating asymmetry, feather score and leg health and problems. Also, some carcass traits and moisture content of the litter were assessed. Dead birds were recorded for each treatment. Results revealed that birds reared on (WS + sand) exhibited significantly higher feeding behavior, BW and BWG than birds reared on straw and (straw + sand). Bedding types had no significant effect (p>.05) on feeding behavior and other productive performance when litters were used separately (WS, straw or sand). Standing and walking behaviors decreased on sand and wood shavings whereas sitting increased. Contrarily, birds reared on straw and (straw + sand) beddings exhibited significantly more standing and walking behaviors and less sitting behavior. FCR and welfare parameters were not affected by the type of litter materials either used separately or in combination. Percentage of gizzard to live weight was significantly higher in birds reared on wood shavings. Percentage of heart to live weight was significantly higher in birds reared on (WS + sand). Other carcass traits were not affected by litter types. Straw had significantly more moisture content compared to other litter types whereas sand had significantly lower moisture content compared to straw (WS + straw). It is concluded that, behaviors of broiler chicks affected by different bedding types. Rice straw and sand could be used as alternative bedding materials to wood shavings without adverse implications of birds performance and welfare.

A total of two hundred and four, one day old Ross broiler chicks were randomly allotted into four dietary treatments floor pen groups (17 birds/ pen, 10 birds/m 2 ) with three replicates for each treatment. The dietary treatments were designed to feed the chick's basal diet supplemented with graded levels of Moringa oleifera leaves meal, MOLM [3%, 5%, 8% and 0% (control) MOLM]. Behavioral observation was carried out twice daily (AM,(7)(8)(9)(10)(13)(14)(15) two days a week for 6 consecutive weeks. Body weight (BW), Body weight gain (BWG) and Feed intake per pen was measured weekly, from which feed conversion ratio (FCR) was calculated. At 30 th day of age blood samples were collected to evaluate anti body titer (HI) against New Castel Diseased Virus (ND). At the end of the experiment, fear responses, differential leucocyte count, Hb and PCV were assayed as well as some carcass traits. Also, mortality rate was estimated. The obtained results showed that higher proportion of birds were engaged in feeding in groups dietary treated with 3% and 5% MOLM, while intermediate responses was shown in birds supplemented with 8% MOLM compared to control ones. The supplemented groups with MOLM showed a lower walking and standing activities than non-supplemented ones. Dietary supplementation with different levels MOLM significantly improved BW, BWG and FCR. In addition, the mortality rates for the dietary treated groups were not affected. The MOLM supplemented groups were less fearful in tonic immobility test, less stressed and had lower heterophil/lymphocyte ratio when compared to un-supplemented ones. MOLM had no effect on Hb concentration and carcass traits. PCV was significantly higher in birds fed 5% MOLM compared to control birds. Birds supplemented with 3%, 5% and 8% MOLM had significant higher antibody titre against ND compared to un-supplemented birds. In conclude, dietary supplementation of broiler chicks with MOLM up to 8% resulted in improved welfare, performance and immune response against ND.

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